[quote=@Estylwen]Yes, your previous idea would still work. It just means the Wizard Queen will be more suspicious of you, but won't do anything against you... yet. 

Any sect created by the late King would have to go into hiding, as the Wizard Queen would have dismantled or grandfathered any sects into her own design. So I think you'd either report to the Wizard Queen, or keep your origins secret. I think reporting to the Wizard Queen isn't terrible, as it allows you closer access to act as a spy, if you so wish to.

An orc mage would absolutely fly. Do my suggestions still work for the character you're imagining?
[/quote]

Yes your suggestions still work for me, I might just go with the surviving royal guard, only that he was severely wounded during the conflict, and after he healed, he chose not to join the queen's royal guard but still has friends in the guard and court, and has since retired to his family's estate and thinking of ways to end the queen's rule and avenge the king. Maybe making a spy network. 

Unless I think of something else.