Rhea Everwood
The rough hands pushed me forward, digging into the tender skin of my arms. My chest rose and fell as we were taken deeper into the land. I risked a glance at Sage, my heart hammering against my ribs. He remained calm, as if he had everything planned out.
I looked up and noticed a building before us. It was a mansion, and there were guards, hulking figures with weapons flanking us. They pushed us relentlessly, their gruff commands echoing in the narrow approach. We said nothing and kept on moving.
We finally reached the main entrance my feet stumbled over the uneven flagstones as we were dragged inside. My eyes, still adjusting to the gloom, landed on the figure seated on a chair. Even in the dimness, his youth was startlingly apparent.
I had envisioned a grizzled, sca
