*Maddy*

King Isaac stands before a window overlooking the castle grounds. The treeline is lush with heavy reddish green buds, the first inklings of spring foliage. I find myself gazing past him and out the window as I wait for him to turn around and explain why I’m here, in his office.

Just beyond the garden is the foreboding wall that encloses the castle grounds, and beyond that?

Miles and miles of untouched wilderness. I’d run toward that wall once, hoping to find ...