Ardala sped up as best as she could, trying to ignore the weight and the pull and keep her back straight. They eventually arrived at the largest single pair of doors that Ardala had ever seen. Lady Dorwenna stepped aside and gestured to her. “Here we are, his High Majesty is waiting for you on the other side. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”

Ardala nodded and gathered her courage in both hands. She needed every scrap of it to step through the doors that opened as she ...