The Last Barbarian is a story about Champion, an ex-gladiator and traveling hero in a rapidly-changing post apocalyptic world. Champion works for King John of the Kingdom of Argillaceous, but secretly he is in a love affair with John’s nameless slave consort, and plans to usurp John so he and the consort can be together. His duel loyalties lead him to participate in a coup called the Magenta Revolution, where the Consort steals the throne from John. But the Magenta Revolution introduces changes to Argillaceous that Champion did no anticipate, and he quickly finds himself questioning who he is and what his role in the world is.
This excerpt covers the beginning of the Magenta Revolution, which finds Champion and his companions out in the desert, where they have been hunting John’s brother, and challenger to the throne, Haddock. New allies emerge to save Champion, but things drift into unfamiliar territory very quickly.