9 Chapter 9: A Prince with No Standing

“My apologies, I did not think that would take as long as it had. My Captain wanted to give me a full brief of what is occurring along the border,” Elric said as they left the dining hall. Although he smiled at her, she could see the concern in his furrowed brow.

“Are we at war?” she asked, realizing how far removed from the happenings of the capital she was in Gilramore, despite being only a day’s journey away.

“Not yet, but I believe we will be soon. No matter what my father says, there is unrest in our towns. There have been rumors of Udril soldiers raiding our villages,” he said, his mouth pressed into a grim line. Saffron had heard of the fearsome soldiers of their neighboring country to the north. They were said to be a brutal country, carving out a life in the harsh frozen wasteland. Stories were told about these raiders to scare children into being home by dark. Saffron felt the familiar pang of fear listening to the real account.