A week had passed after the dukes and lords had presented their displeasure about King Samuel’s friendship with the People of Nowhere. It had been a week since Louis and Francis had discovered the truth about their new king.
Everything seemed to be going in the right direction, peace seemingly bubbling through the surface. But a week of quiet could mean a week of plotting.
The young king was in his study when his two loyal guards barged in with looks of urgency. They would not simply come there without being announced otherwise.
“Your Highness, there is a mass exodus going on in Shadowcreek.”
The king immediately realized what was going on.
“How many?”
“In the hundreds,” Louis replied. “Mostly royals, but there are a few peasants who went their way. Some are slaves.”
“Slaves? We
