Hollow Forest

Dawn came pale and slow. The sky was dull silver, the sort which caused the snow to have an unobtrusive glow. And breath in the air was flying people across the courtyard, filling up the wagons, which was the last of them. Horses fussed their feet on the frozen ground. The music was as heartbeat-like.

Annabelle was standing by the gate, and her cloak was drawn up. Her fingers were dead, and she did not mind. The palace behind her was now smaller, with half of its towers gone, ...