A nna and Pym made their way between the rock crevice. If they had been larger humans they would not have been able to pass. But they were not like the average human. Their mother, Niamh, had fallen in love with a halfling, a race much shorter than humans. Their mixed blood produced off-spring that were shorter and slimmer than a human and too tall to be recognized as halfling.

The siblings climbed the last rock face then stood upright and looked upon their favourite swimming hole. Here, on the side of the mountain just above their hometown of Petra, pooled a warm spring. It was their secret place they shared with noone, not even their older brothers.

Without hesitation, Anna slipped out of her shirt and trousers, revealing the swimming garment beneath. She jumped in the water, but was careful not to go too deep. At its deepest, the pool was only ten feet, so she was not able to dive into it. Still, measuring 20 feet wide by 30 feet long, it was great for swimming.

“Come in,” Anna beckoned her brother who looked over the edge of the rock landing toward Petra, the valley below and the surrounding mountains. “The water is warmer than last we were here.”

“It has to be.” Pym grinned and began removing his outer wear. “The warming season is near. Things are changing.”

“Not too many things I hope,” Anna said before going below the water. She surfaced closer to her brother and rested her hands on the pool’s edge.

Pym sat on the rim and dangled his feet in the water. “I suppose some changes would be fine,” he said. “You know I won’t be returning to my studies after the warming season. This will be my last session.”

“I know,” Anna said, disappointed. “But is there any way you could return with me next session? Just ‘til I finish? I will miss you.”

“I’ll still be under your feet at home,” Pym said. “I just won’t be in the lecture hall.”

“It’s just that I’ll be the only . . .” she hesitated before finishing what he knew she would say, “the only half-breed there. The other halflings don’t exactly take kindly to having someone like me in their space.”

Pym felt the same way, but he was fortune. When he began attending the lectures, his older brothers were already there. Anna followed the next session. He never had to face the pure-breeds alone. “It won’t be so bad,” he said, trying to make light of it. “You’re smarter than the rest, so you’ll finish the session with no trouble.”

Anna signed. It would be lonely without Pym. He was her best friend. Only three seasons older than her, they were never  apart. They stuck together as much as their older brothers. It was always us and them to her. Now with her 18 complete  season cycle of living just days away, she felt her whole world was changing. Pym would be 19 in three moons and would begin his apprenticeship at the local iron forge.

“Maybe Das would let you,” Anna tried again.

“No,” he shook his head. “It is time Anna. We can not be children at play any longer. Das has already arranged my apprenticeship and I have to start earning my own way. The time is quickly nearing when you, too, will have to chose what your lot will be in life. We can’t live with Meese and Das forever. We have grown up.”

Growing up was for the birds, Anna thought. They had decades to decide what to do. Unlike pure-breed humans who might live 80 complete season cycles, Anna and her brothers might complete 150 or more. There was plenty of time to be serious and start a trade.

Their oldest brother, Ben, was already united and expecting his first issue. He had joined with a human close to his size. Anna wondered if Benjamin had chosen Lisa because she ignited his blood or because he could kiss her without standing on a stool.

Choosing a mate would be easier for Anna unless she united with a halfling. That wasn’t likely considering the way those in the lecture hall treated her. Although she had wonderful halfling relatives she cherished, mating with one was not what she dreamed about. A human would be more her size and it didn’t matter if he was taller. Men were supposed to be taller than their mates.

“What will you chose?” she asked Pym.

“For what?” he asked. “The evening ration?”

She flicked water at him, wetting his shorts. “No, silly. For a mate. Would you chose a halfling or human?” She had asked before and he had always answered human, but he was changing and she wondered if it still was so.

Pym snickered. “And what does it matter to you? Have you got your eye on a chosen one?”

“No,” she said, pushing away the thoughts of a human boy at the pottery shop she thought gave her more attention than the regular customers. “I wouldn’t dream of uniting. At least not until I am 60 or 70. I want to explore and visit the places we study about in the lecture hall. Places like Flasten, Callaw and Maskil. Maskil, now there is a place we might be able to fit in. There’s lots of different races there. Anyway, uniting and breeding are not what I want to do any time soon.”

Pym kicked his leg high in the air, sending water raining down on both of them. “Maybe,” he began, pushing himself into the pool, “I’ll seek a wretched woman who has a human for a mother and halfling for a father. Then we would be the perfect match.” He winked at her before diving beneath the water. It was warmer than their last visit.

Anna was waiting for him when he reached the surface. “You know we are rare,” she said. But it would be nice if she could find someone just like her, a half-breed human halfling mix. But she was told many years ago that human and halfling blood did not mix well and issues seldom survived the birth. Her parents were special bringing all six issues to full term.

However, Anna, the only girl was a difficult birth for her mother and it was decided, she would be the last.

“And you,” he said, “who would you chose? A short halfling or a giant human?”

“Human, of course,” she answered. “They are more my size.”

“A dwarf is more your size,” he chuckled. She wasn’t as tall as her brothers, but was certainly taller than a halfling. “Yes, a dwarf with a full beard, broad at the shoulders with a big flat nose and hairy brows.”

Anna threw water at him with her cupped hands. “You take that back!” she shouted in play. “I would never choose a dwarf. They are too gruff and ill-tempered. All they do is work in the mines and drink ale. Who wants to live in a cave with one those stinky beings? Not me!”

Pym dove beneath the water and grabbed her by the legs, lifting her up to the surface. He tossed her in the air and watched her fall with a splash. They frolicked and laughed the better part of the afternoon. As the sun began to disappear behind Backwind Mountain, casting long shadows over Petra, they pulled themselves out of the water to dry.

“I wish I could live here,” Anna commented almost to herself.

Pym looked about at the high rock wall on the backside of the swimming hole and then out toward the open valley. It was a beautiful place to retreat to, but live here? He didn’t think so. But as he looked at his sister staring off into the sky, he saw the sparkle in her eyes she seldom had when in Petra. Maybe this could be her home. After all, she was the one who remembered the plant names, where they grew and the season they bloomed. She noticed when the animals had their young and knew which ones to avoid when they were in their sassy mood, as she called it. She even could feel the change in the weather and knew when a snow squaw would blow in.

“You would be lonely here alone,” he said.

“Oh, I wouldn’t be alone.”

He lifted one eye-brow and stared at her. “I’m not living here with you.”

She shook her head laughing. “No, silly. I mean after I unite with my mate. That’s not for a long time. I have to travel first and see the land beyond these mountains.”

“Ah, of course. And where will you go first?” He knew his sister was dreaming again. She was always dreaming of the things she might some day do.

“I don’t know. Maskil is just on the other side of Mount Thom. Maybe I’ll dwell there for a season cycle and then go on to Flasten or Laren.”

“Maskil? Lot’s of dwarves there,” Pym grinned.

“Oh, you are evil,” she threw her shirt at him and stood. “You and your dwarves. Does this mean you have dreams of a lovely bearded lady? You know that most of them have beards. Remember the one we met at the bakery during the last warming season? If it weren’t for the dress, I would have sworn it was a male.”

Pym laughed remembering that day. Dwarves were not frequent visitors to Petra. The town was made up of two settlements, one consisting mostly of humans the other, on the north ridge, of halflings. The two settlements had peacefully dwelled together for hundreds of years. That’s not to say there weren’t disputes, but they were quickly settled by the dukes of each settlement.

“I will give you one piece of sound advice then if you plan to visit Maskil,” he said, tossing her shirt back to her and pulling on his trousers.

“What’s that?”

“Before you ask any dwarves to dance, check to see if he is male.” He laughed so hard he almost didn’t escape her swinging fists. He danced about and pretended to throw punches, but both knew the other was playing.

Anna jumped from their dancing circle and headed for the path that would lead them home. “Last one home’s a stinky bugbear.”

Pym scooped up his shirt and pulled it over his head as he followed her down the path.

By the time the siblings reached home, darkness had blanketed the northern settlement of Petra. The oil lamps lit their way as they walked along the street where most of the shops were closing their doors and flipping their open signs.

“I think we missed the evening ration,” said Pym. “Meese won’t be happy.”

“I think you are right, but Meese will understand. The warming season makes young ‘uns do silly things.” She jabbed him in the side of the ribs with her elbow. “Young ‘un,” she repeated.

Just as Pym reached for the knob on the front door of their dwelling, the door swung open.

“You are late!” His mother surprised him with the angry words. “To your room!” she ordered.

“Meese, I’m sorry. We were swimming in the mountains and we lo-” Pym tried to explain.

“Shush! To your room, now!” She thrust her arm in the air and pointed toward the stairs. Niamh Mi'Egan did not have time to explain.

Pym ducked away from his mother. He had never known her to be so angry because he was late. On his way up the stairs, he slowed his pace long enough to see his mother’s two sisters and his father standing in the middle of the foyer. He looked back to see what they were staring at and saw his mother grasping Anna in her arms. Why were his aunts here? What had happened? Why wasn’t Anna following him up the stairs?

“Anna, my child,” Niamh hugged her daughter. “You have been chosen.” She made every attempt to be happy, but deep down, she was unsure about what was to come. Her youngest child, her only daughter had been chosen. It was an honour to be chosen by the Duke and was supposed to be a joyous time for the Egan family and the whole halfling settlement.

“Chosen?” Anna was confused. What was she chosen for? She thought she was going to be lectured about being late, not told she was chosen. “Meese, what am I chosen to do?”

“Come. Come.” Niamh ushered her daughter toward the kitchen. “We must prepare you. He will be here soon. We were afraid he would arrive before you. We have waited anxiously for your return.”

“What?” Anna was even more confused. Who was coming and why did they want to see her? “Meese, slow down. I don’t know what you are talking about.” She tried to stop, but her mother and her aunts swept her from the room, waving her father away.

Niamh pushed Anna in a chair and the three ladies immediately went to work. While her mother untied her long dark blonde braid, one aunt washed her face with scented soap while the other scrubbed her hands.

The table in front of Anna was filled with brushes, combes, pins, hair clips, scarfs, wraps, bottled liquids, cosmetic containers and jewellery boxes. In all her life, she had never used half these things to decorate herself. Her mother didn’t even own this much stuff. It must have been a collection created by all three sisters.

“It is a squirrel’s nest,” her mother complained as she tugged to get the brush through Anna’s damp hair. “Swimming,” she shook her head. “At a time like this.”

“Meese, what is going on?” Anna could stand it no longer. She had to know. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Anna, dear, you are the lucky one. Chosen,” said Aunt Leila, as she applied a cream over her niece’s face.

“Oh, to be chosen by the Duke is an honour,” added Aunt Odessa. She dried Anna’s hand then began shaping her finger nails. “You have been blessed, Niamh, to have a daughter so chosen.”

“Chosen for what?” Anna screamed, jumping up from the chair.

The three ladies froze: all were human, all with blonde hair and blue eyes. They could almost pass for triplets they resembled each other so closely.

Niamh took a step forward, bowing her head slightly and said, “my child, you have been granted the most prestigious honour of all humans and halflings. You have been chosen by the Duke of Petra.”

Anna took a step back. What did the Duke want with her? And which Duke? The ruler of the humans, the Duke of the South, Canton, or the ruler of the halflings, Duke Wallace of the North? “What have I been chosen to do?” she asked, a little uneasy about what the answer might be.

“To be united,” said her mother, the worried look fracturing her smile.

Anna hadn’t heard that right. “The Duke wants to unite with me? I don’t even know him! Either of them! They’re both old men!”

Niamh looked at her sisters and then back at Anna. “He has chosen you to unite with his son. They will be here soon to meet with you and ask you for your permission.”

“Well, they won’t get it.” Anna folded her arms and glared at her mother. It didn’t matter if the son was human or halfling, neither Dukes would take charge of her.

“But you can’t refuse,” Aunt Odessa cried. “Your permission is assumed. The peace of the mountain depends upon it.”

Niamh hushed her sister. “Anna,” she said softly. “Do you know that you are the only female human halfling mix known to the land?” She closed her eyes and shook her head, wondering how she would feel if she were in her daughter’s position. Her parents had refused to acknowledge her own union to a halfling until after their first issue was born. Until that time, she was defending every decision she made. Now, placing herself in Anna’s position of forced union was impossible to imagine. She opened her eyes and tried to explain. “You are special. So special that Canton, the Duke of the South, has chosen you to mate with his son, Lord Finley.”

Anna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It wasn’t fair. She should be able to chose her mate like everyone else. “What happens if I refuse?”

The three sisters exchanged glances.

“War,” Aunt Leila said. “Humans and halflings live in peace at Petra because occasionally sacrifices are made. It has been a long time since the humans have asked for anything.” As a human, she believed all halflings owned something for their protection. After all, halflings were a passive race. If it weren’t for the humans protecting Petra, the cave dwarves would have destroyed the town ages ago. “To refuse them this one simple request would break the peace agreement.”

“This is crazy!” Anna cried, tears swelling in her eyes. “I don’t know him! My blood does not burn for him!”

“You will get to know him, sweetie,” Niamh tried to console her daughter. “He is a good man and he will take care of all your needs. You will want for nothing,”

“But my freedom!” Anna cried.

“Anna,” Aunt Odessa scolded. “It is time for you to grow up. You have responsibilities now. You have to start thinking of more than just yourself.”

“It is not as if you have to unite tomorrow and start breeding,” added Aunt Leila. “You have until you have completed 45 season cycles to unite. It is just with your 18th year almost complete, you are ripe and they are laying claim before Wallace has a chance.”

“They also want to begin your training,” said Niamh. “The future Duchess must possess certain skills.”

“I don’t want to be a duchess,” she said.

“Then you will be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of halflings,” bit Aunt Leila. Not that it mattered to her. Though she did have a few good halfling friends.

“Leila! Do not say such things. Anna is still a child in many ways. You are looking at this through experienced eyes.” Niamh turned to her daughter. “Anna, listen to me. The Duke and his son will be here shortly. At the very least, we must make you presentable for them. Though I really don’t think they care what you look like. They want you for what you are.” She guided Anna to the chair. “At the very least, we should learn what this is all about. I have never known anyone to be chosen by a duke before. I’m not sure what the protocol is, but we shall see.”

Anna flopped in the chair and the ladies continued their make-over. Stunned by the sudden turn her life was taking, she could do nothing to stop the flurry of hands that prepared her to meet her would-be mate.

When Anna’s father poked his head in the door to say the visitors were waiting in the parlour, the ladies were putting the final touches on the simple, but elegant dress Anna had never seen before. It felt tight in places and lose in others. The shoes forced upon her feet were awkward to walk in. Mostly, she ran about barefoot and the bottoms of her feet were tough.

Before she could take a deep breath, Anna was ushered from the kitchen and to the parlour door where she waited with her father to be introduced. Niamh and her two sisters entered, greeting the Duke and his progeny with polite good evenings.

Anna looked at her father, pleading with her eyes for help. “Das, can it not be stopped?” she whispered.

Rasnil M’Egan swallowed hard. All his life he had strived to be a peaceful being, conceding to others just to avoid conflict. But this was too much. His daughter was his precious treasure not an item to be bartered away to satisfy a peace agreement. Since the royal messenger had delivered the announcement during the mid-day ration, he had plotted and schemed of a way for his daughter to escape this pledge. Seeing her now, in this ridiculous outfit and fear filling her eyes, he knew what the Duke wanted was wrong.

Rasnil caressed his daughter’s hand and softly whispered, “Sometimes the elders deliver us to our destiny by the most unexpected path, my child. All I ask is for you to trust in me. Halflings are a peaceful race and we choose to tend to matters quietly,” he reminded her.

“We can be whatever we choose to be,” she said, challenging his beliefs. “It is not fore-written, Das. All we have to do is believe.”

He nodded. Though still as playful as a lamb, his daughter was growing wise. “But even the best of beliefs sometime need a nudge in the right direction. Patients will reveal your true guide.”

Anna trusted her father. He was wise and though she had never heard him raise his voice, she knew there was power in his words. “I place my future in your hands, Das. Guide me to my destiny.”

Both froze when from the parlour, Niamh beckoned them inside to meet the Duke and his son.

“In time, my dear,” Rasnil whispered. “For now, be strong. We have lots of time to unravel this scheme.” With that, he pulled back the curtain and escorted his daughter into the parlour.

Seated in the chair normally reserved for her father, Anna saw the Duke of the South, Spen Canton. He was a medium-sized human with jet black hair. His dark eyes fell pleasingly on her, studying her from hair to shoe. Uneasy about being judged purely for her appearance, Anna began to overheat. The layers of cloths her mother and aunts had decorated her with was not allowing the air to flow over her skin. Taking a shallow breath, she wondered what would happen if she ran from the room.

“A beautiful specimen.” The Duke’s deep voice seemed out of place in the small parlour. “You have raised a ravishing woman. Any man would be honoured to unite with the goodness the Goddess of Nature has spirited upon this land.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. Nature has taken charge of her.” Niamh smiled, knowing the Duke had no idea how nature had spirited her youngest child.

“Anna of Niamh, may I introduce you to your future mate.” The Duke ceremoniously waved his arm toward his son, Lord Finley, the future Duke of the South who bowed accordingly.

Anna’s mouth dropped. Or at least she thought it did. Her so-called chosen one was a child. Although he sat up straight, dressed like his father and brandished a sword by his side, he was a child.

The Duke obviously sensed her surprise and explained. “My son is young still, but he has years of experience under his sword.”

Play fighting, Anna thought. “How old is he, your grace?” she asked as politely as she could.

“He has just completed 14 years on the land, but do not let his youth fool you. He is well versed in life.”

I bet, she thought. He knew the inside of a bakery and a play box. This was ridiculous.

“Of course, you are not expected to honour the pledge of union immediately. My son will follow the Laws of the Land and unite when he has completed a full 18 season cycles.”

“I was told I had until my 45th cycles to unite. Is this not so, Your Grace?” Anna asked, ignoring the glares from her aunts.

“That is true, but why waste the early breeding years.” The Duke forced a smile.

“But I have many breeding years, so there is no need to rush, Your Grace,” she replied. Maybe the human would die beforehand and she would be free.

“True, but as a human, our best breeding years come before our 45th cycle. I do not want my son to miss them.” The Duke waved away Niamh as she tried to speak. “This all can be worked out later. My business here tonight is to simply arrange the commitment of the union of Anna of Niamh and Lord Finley.” The Duke gestured toward his son who immediately stood.

Although younger than her, Lord Finley was already taller than Anna. It was only a small measure, but he still had some years left to expand.

“Anna of Niamh, I come bearing my good name to request a pledge of union.” Lord Finley opened his palm and waited for Anna to place her hand, palm down upon it.

Anna looked around at her family. Was there anyway she could escape the fate that bad fortunate had cast her way without bringing shame and harm to them?

The Duke of the South cleared his throat. “Maybe the young lady does not know the pledging protocol.” He looked to the rest for reassurance. “Dear child, you must place your hand upon his and listen to his offer.”

Anna knew the protocol. She had heard others speak of it. And she wasn’t a child. Slowly, she raised her hand and placed it on the open palm. His touch was cold and sent a shiver through her arm that bounced around under her skin until she thought she might grow icy needles.

“I, Lord Finley of the South, do make pledge for a union with you, Anna of Niamh. As your future mate, I promise to give you all that is required to sustain you. You will become Lady Anna and will be at home in my castle. Do you so pledge your union with me?”

Anna heard the words, but could not believe them. This boy was asking for a pledge of union; was this what he wanted or what his father wanted for him? Her mind raced with the possible answers, all she knew she could never say.

Again, the Duke interrupted. “My dear, you are now required to say, ‘my Lord Finley, I do pledge my union with you’ to answer his request.”

Request? This was no request. This was an order. The words came out, but they were not in Anna’s usual voice. When she finished, she heard a sigh of relief from her family and she thought, from the Duke himself.

“As you pledge your commitment to our union,” began Lord Finley, “it is with my good grace to give you time to prepare for your future, as you require, to ready yourself for your new life as Lady Anna.”

Mmm, Anna thought. It’s going to take me to my full 45th cycle to get myself ready. Her hope for freedom faded when she heard what was next said.

“Following the tradition of the Dukedom of the South, if peril should end my reign, my younger brother will take charge of you and honour the pledge of union.” Lord Finley, slightly bowed, kissed the back of her hand and returned to his seat beside his father.

Anna remained standing, hand out-stretched in shock. She was pledged to the Dukedom of the South, not just to one man. She would never be free. Uniting with a dwarf was more preferable than this. Anna felt her mother’s arms around her. They steadied her as they guided her to a seat against the parlour wall. Her mother caressed her hand as she spoke with the Duke. Anna didn’t hear what they said. She was lost in the daymare of what her life had become in the short time since she and Pym splashed in the mountain pool. It would never be the same.


After the Duke and his son left the dwelling, Anna’s mother helped her undress and climb into bed. Still in shock and unwilling to believe the events of the evening, she didn’t want to discuss it in case it made them real.

“Anna, dear,” Niamh tried to console her daughter. “Don’t dwell on the bad of this arrangement. Nothing good can come from that. You must focus on the good things.”

Anna didn’t answer. She sobbed in her pillow wishing the day never happened. She would rather attend a hundred more seasons in the lecture hall without Pym than face a life time in the Dukedom of the South.

Niamh patted her daughter’s shoulder. “I will leave you to your thoughts. We will discuss this after you have rested and had time to appreciate  your new position in life. You’ll see. Things will be brighter in the morning.” She kissed the top of her daughter’s head then quietly left the room.

When Niamh’s footsteps faded down the hall, Anna heard her door slowly open. Though the light was dim, she could make out Pym’s shadow sneak across the floor.

“What was all the commotion,” he asked, half excited that something great was going to happen.

“Doom, Pym. Doom.” She fell upon his shoulder and sobbed. “I have been pledged to an arranged union with Lord Finley, the son of Canton. They want me to breed with the Dukedom of the South because I am a half-breed.”

“What? They can not do that. That is wrong.” A thousand thoughts ran through his mind. His sister was not something that could be traded between kingdoms. “There must be a way to stop this.”

Anna shook her head. “Meese says I have to honour the pledge and Aunt Leila says the humans will start a war if I am not presented. She has put the blood of the halflings on my hands.”

“Nonsense. Pure nonsense.” Pym tried to think of anyone else who had an arranged union, but he couldn’t. Was it only because she was a half-breed?

“I feel like running away and never coming back,” Anna sobbed. “But if I am not joined by my 45th season cycle, the humans might really start a war.”

“Forty-fifth cycle?” said Pym. “You don’t have to unite for another 28 cycles?”

Anna nodded.

“That gives us plenty of time to think of something,” Pym said, caressing her hair.

Anna shook her head. “They want to begin my training now. They want the perfect Duchess. One that will breed when Lord Finley is in his prime breeding cycles.” She sobbed harder. “He has only completed 14 of them.”

“Fourteen?” This was more unbelievable with every piece of information revealed. “What if you did go away?”

Anna looked up at him. “Go away? Leave Petra? I don’t know if I’m ready. Where would I go?”

Pym released a long sigh. He didn’t want his sister to leave, but he didn’t want her to face the strict training that  awaited her in the Dukedom of the South. Instead of frolicking in a mountain pool, she would be forced to attend one official ceremony after another. That was not Anna. The thought of the Duke’s son forcing himself upon her innocent body made him nauseous. He had to do something. “Maskil,” he said. Realizing it would be a safe place nearby for her to hide out.

“Maskil?” Anna thought about this. She always wanted to visit the town, but live there? Right now?

“I will take you there myself. Tonight,” he whispered. “Before they have a chance to get their hands on you. We’ll be there in three days if we take Brownie’s horse. We’ll get you settled and then I’ll come home.”

Anna wiped her eyes. Was there really a way for her to avoid her pledge at least for the next 28 season cycles?

“While you are gone, I will see what I can do to get you out of the pledge,” Pym added.

Anna nodded and threw her arms around her brother’s neck. “Thank you.” For certain, she could never thank him enough.

“Now, now. Enough of the mush. Pack quickly and quietly. Take only what you can fit in a rucksack and only what you need. Too many possessions will slow us down.”

“What about Meese and Das?” Anna asked before she reached for her rucksack.

“I will deal with them when I return. By then, they will be happy to hear that you are well even if you are not here. Time is wasting. I will gather the things we will need for the journey and will be back for you.” He turned to leave, but could not resist one final hug. His sister deserved more than this, but this was all he could offer.

An hour of stressful waiting passed before Anna heard a tap on her bedroom window. When she drew the curtain, Pym’s face was smiling back at her. “Ready for a mid-night run?”

Anna couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. Once again, she felt free, able to do what she dreamed. With Pym by her side, she knew she would safely reach Maskil. They had made many explorations in the mountains, often camping for several days on the trail. This was just another adventure.

Pym guided her out the window and down the side of the dwelling. Brownie’s horse patiently waited, saddled and bridled with saddle bags on each side filled with the things they would need. After her brother mounted, he reached out a hand to help Anna up on the saddle. Before she could change her mind, the quarter horse began to jog and Pym guided it to the road that would lead them to Maskil.

Anna glanced back at her dwelling, silently saying good-bye to her family. She didn’t know when she would next see them, but some how, she knew she would. As her home faded in the darkness, she turned to face her future. Her arms were firmly wrapped around Pym’s waist as they skirted the base of the ridge that lead to the Dukedom of the South. High on a hill, the castle was lit by the moon approaching its full cycle. As eery as the outside appeared, Anna believed inside was even more dreadful. She would thank every dew drop if she never learned it to be true.

~ The End ~