I sat beside a burning fire with Ursala on my lap. Alvis Fairhands sat opposite of me as he worked on finishing a plate of freshly grilled fish. Bellus and Hakim sat flanking the Niscian while Gawain and Gawaith sat on either side of me. We had just finished our evening meal and were sitting quietly by the fire and absorbing the comforting heat. Outside a snowstorm howled and groaned, dumping more snow into this wintry wonderland. The wind’s roar had an especially foreboding wail to it which made me ill at ease. Ursala, humming a tune to herself as she played with the hilt of Helvingshar, seemed unconcerned about the prophecies which predicted all of the Five Princesses would eventually feel the mortal bite of the Dragon blade.
Hakim and Bellus knew the prophecies. They knew of the many l
