ers. The once-lush fields were now trampled and burned, the air thick with the smell of smoke and
l, her energy waning. She stumbled, her vision blurri
ain washed over her, forcing her to lie back down. She was in a cold, damp cell deep withi
e entered. Eliana's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she saw King Kael standing
and husky. "I see you're awake. You'll be ple
le. "You'll pay for this, Kael," she spat, trying
t. "I'm not concerned about your people, Princess," he said. "I'm concerned
"You'll never break me,"
at," he said, turning to leave. "You have a l
etermination. She would not be broken. She would escape,
harsh treatment. But she refused to give up. She plotted her escape, using ever
wondered if they were safe, if they were fighting back against Malakar's aggression
thoughts. The door opened, and a guard entered. "Time for
guard. She would play along, for now, but
ng in the corridor. Their eyes met, and for a moment, she felt a spark
hrough Eliana's hair as she walked. She was surrounded by high w
as a woman, tall and imposing, with piercing green eyes. Eliana felt a shiv
na asked, trying to
am Lyra, one of King Kael's advisors," she said. "
ed. "What do you want
lp each other, Princess," she said. "But for now, l
feeling that Lyra's words were more than just a threat.
e would play it on her own terms. She would escape, an
Eliana's spirit remained unbroken. She would not be defeated.
e the cost of her freedom? And
ent thinking of ways to break free from her prison, to outsmart her captors and make her way back to Eldrador.
saw Lyra again. The advisor was standing by the wall, wa
aid, her voice low and husky. "You have a fire
o you want from me?" she asked,
ther, Princess," she said. "You see, I have certain...reservations about King Ka
divisions within Malakar's court, of advisors who disagr
tive?" Eliana asked, t
plan that could benefit both of us," she said. "But it
ra, to believe that she could help her escape. But another part of her
ehind her. She turned to see King Kael standing in the doorway, his
. "I see you're enjoying the exercise yard. But I fe
o could it be? She hadn't seen anyo
behind him. It was a man, tall and imposing, with pie
, his voice dripping with mal
Ravenswood, one of Eldrador's own nobles. But what was he doin
ing to keep her voice steady. "Wh
come to make a deal, Princess," he said. "A deal tha
al could Ravenswood possibly be makin
at her fate was about to take a dramatic turn. And she was