Prologue

Staring at the window that hung between the two doors, one that lead into the dinning room and the other down the stairs, Berowyne watched the boys playing in the yard. They were so young and had never experienced the inevitable. For the smoke that rose everyday from the south meant only one thing. The Lords were always fighting but not like recently.

This year war threatened the edges of the country. The Lords who didn’t care about the people would gladly give up there minions but Berowyne knew the difference between Trust and Orders. This had happened to her all before. The death was horrible and memories were still tucked away deep in her mind.

Talin had tried to help her before, but he was long gone. For it has been more than five years. Berowyne was waiting, she knew that Rome would soon get on the road or at least, Brin would get her moving. Trusting that Berowyne got the message to her was the only thing Io had left going for her and Berowyne would not let her queen down.

Suddenly Jako came running into the house.

“Mama, Mama, there are strange travelers on the road,” he said.

Berowyne dropped her cooking things and went to the door expecting the Half-Elf, with her companions. But what she found was completely different.

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The Sprite rode quickly through the dense forest before her, there only so much time she had to get to the prince. Io had given her specific directions to where this house was but surprised her as to what the mission she had given her.

Caërwen knew the boy was there, and that he was safe, at least she had thought so, but know his secret was betrayed, and by who, no one would know.

Caërwen knew that the enemy was close behind her, or ahead, ready to take him, for the reason why he was hidden in the first place, and Rome, Io’s daughter must be told the truth and her part to play.

But only if Caërwen could outride these beasts and reach the child before them would what her queen asked for be fulfilled.