As fifth son of the king of the Fen Countries, Aram is a prince with little to no prospect of ever becoming king. Apprenticed to his sea captain uncle, Aram doesn't believe his shipmates stories of an island kingdom populated by dwarves until they dock there.
The dwarf clans can never agree on anything, and so choose to have a mortal king. While Aram is a guest at the palace, the king is assassinated and Aram is blamed. There is nothing to do but flee.
While on the run he finds refuge among the dwarves and becomes a military advisor to a dweorgan revolution. Of course there's a fugitive princess, conflict, and obstacles.