TIARA THORNELLS
I watched the royal guard walk away, his silhouette slowly swallowed by the thickening darkness. The shadows crept closer around me, and I could feel the chill of the night settling in. I looked up at the sky, clouds loomed heavy and dark, covering the heavens like a curtain. The full moon was only beginning to rise in the northern sky, offering barely enough light to see even a few steps.
The guard didn’t even bother to leave his torch behind. I let out a harsh, frustrated breath and slowly pushed myself up to my feet. A sharp pain shot through my ankle again, making me wince. I glanced around, trying to make sense of where I was.
I was in the middle of a wide, open field of grass with no clear path ahead. I had no idea where to go next.
Drawing in a steadying breath,
