Seraphina looked around, nervousness mixing with disappointment. There was no one to be seen. The cobblestone streets of the village were completely empty, and you would be forgiven for believing that the whole place had been abandoned recently, if not for a few signs of life. The bucket balanced on the rim of the well was still wet which meant that it had been used that day. There was hardly any snow on the paths, so someone must have swept it away, and the doors weren’t overgrown with thick moss and ivy the way the most of the walls were.
The princess nudged at Alios’s shoulder until he put her down. Her feet sank a few inches into the snow. “Where is everyone?” Seraphina asked. “There are still people here.” Her heart stuttered in her chest and she clutched at the collar of her coat. A
