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PROLOGUE

Death cast a long shadow across the barren miles of Paelsia The news of Chief Basilius’s hout the land fell into a deep reat ic and whoht of as a living god

“What e do without him?” was a constant cry in the days and weeks that followed “We are lost!”

“Honestly,” Lysandra gruor, as they snuck out of their faic It was all just talk! It’s like they forget he taxed us all to death The chief was a liar and a thief who lived high andback wine and food while the rest of us starved!”

“Hush,” Gregor warned, but he was laughing “You speak your mind far too much, little Lys”

“I’m sure you have a point”

“It’ll get you in trouble some day”

“I can handle trouble” Lysandra aiet on a tree twenty paces away and let go She hit the very center Pride warlanced at her brother for his reaction

“Nice shot” His grin widened and he nudged her aside to take his turn “However, this will be nicer”

Easily, he split her arrow in two She couldn’t help but be i like this forher brother to share his knowledge of archery, but he finally relented It was unusual for a girl to be taught how to use weapons Most believed girls were meant to cook and clean and look after the men

Which was ridiculous Especially since Lysandra was a natural at this

“Do you think they’ll be back?” she asked Gregor quietly, scanning the se nearby, the thatched roofs, the mud and stone exteriors Smoke wafted from the chimneys of many of the small homes

His jaw tensed “I don’t know”

A week ago, i Gaius, visited their village, asking for volunteers to go east and begin work on a road the king wanted quickly built, one that would snake not only through Paelsia, but through the neighboring lands of Auranos and Limeros as well

Gregor and their father had been chosen to greet the ht s thee had declined the offer