*Lynn*

My boots landed against the thick mud that coated the gardens outside. Fresh snowmelt had created a sludge that was nearly impossible to get through. I heard footsteps behind me and glanced over my shoulder, fearing the worst.

A guard waltzed past a far door, whistling as he went. He didn’t notice me as he walked further down the path. I released a sigh of relief as I worked to get my boot unstuck from the mud.

The light above me turned on. At first, ...