Soraya’s wedding day arrived – but Adrian had not returned. She woke up before the break of dawn, anxious to feel anything from him. But there was nothing. The princess could barely remember the last few days, having to mourn one parent after the other. Her mother’s burial was even less ostentatious than her father’s. It was a sign that the Swordsmiths had genuinely taken over Kingspell. There was no need to make a formal announcement. Their knights and guards were everywhere, leading Kingspell’s own.
Word has spread about how the stablehand had singlehandedly killed seven guards. The Swordsmith men had spent the last four days scouring the grounds. Soraya would sometimes hear the disgruntled mumblings of the defeated knights gathering for the night, still empty-handed. She was both reli
