One Problem Down

*Kieran*

I travel southwest for an entire day through the remains of Escuro, my unease growing with each new step. A monster did this to their kingdom when they were already weak and defenseless. And he lied to us about it for our whole lives. If not for Raven, I might have become exactly like him. That’s what he was training me to be. He wants me to be a king exactly like him, but I’ll see him dead before I allow that to happen.

The trip back will be easier now, at least, since I don’t have to dodge my father’s men. I head to the southwest, where I told them I’d last seen Raven- Blanca, I remind myself. I miss her so much already, I have no idea how I’m supposed to pretend that I hate her. As far as Father knows, I chased after her to stop her. He’d want me to torture her, to kill her, even.

The thought alone turns my stomach now. There was a time when I might have considered it. He poisoned me so thoroughly against her, telling me that all she wanted was to be the ruler of Dun’s