Lying on her back in the cool grass, Jana watched the fluffy white clouds stretch lazily across the denim spring sky. Beside her Merlie sat straight-backed and cross-legged, wary and watchful. They were too far from the city gates, in the servant’s opinion, and too close to the still evergreens of the dense forest. She’d heard talk of magical creatures in the woods, and recent attacks on travelers at night had the city closing the gates after hours. She watched the leaves and branches carefully, waiting for any sign of movement. If the general knew they’d ventured this far…
But Jana seemed unperturbed and at peace, glad to be out from under the watchful gaze of her father, and because Merlie knew her place, she kept quiet. But her gaze never left the forest, where any number of dangers mi
