g in Setvastl always smelled like dew, soil, and woodsmoke. It was gentle-the kind of peace that

yam filled the air. Valen was probably outside tending to the goats, his quiet w

n, slee

t v

se-it w

I was lying even if I blinked too fast. We'd grown up side by side, raced on muddy paths,

a chunk of roasted yam in one

ams, and hiding in cornfields like the world was our playground. It was our version o

teased, pulling me out from

hrowing a piece of grass at

n't need to cheat

hat made my he

old tree by the fence-our tree. The same one we carved our initials into

r what's beyond th

ul. "Sometimes. But what

d still like to

t last long. Not wi

lack vests, standing just outside the field house where they sometimes gathered

They're watching the b

k guarding a bunch of clueless villagers. We should've

Jareth and I loo

ng? Tra

protect us. Why did th

nd a bush, wat

to this place?" one of them said. "We're jus

farming, family, and games in the field-suddenly felt like a stage.

n, their voices fa

. "You think they're

n't a

oment, something

rav

to kn

side me was starting t

t, I coul

world outside was big, dangerous even. But for the first time, I didn't care. I wanted to s

wooden walls of my roo

I'll fi