The following day, Aellyn and Conrad were allowed to ease more gently into their morning. They ate an early but fairly leisurely breakfast in her sitting room before they set about their final preparations for their departure later that morning. With a quick kiss, Conrad left her to return to his own quarters where he…

The next couple days passed peacefully for Aellyn. She and Conrad spent most of their time in her chambers, settled on one of the couches in front of the hearth in her sitting room, pouring over whatever tomes Ilbryen sent them. The rest of the household, however, was in a flurry of activity preparing for…

Aellyn arrived in her mother’s sitting room to find her father sitting at her mother’s writing desk, a collection of books spread open before him. He was dressed in simple green robes and looked every inch the studious scholar sitting there. He looked up curiously when she entered, and smiled warmly when he saw her….

When Aellyn swept back into her chambers that evening to prepare for dinner, she felt like she was walking on a cloud. Ringing for her maid, she did a little pirouette before gliding over to the table to pour herself a drink. “Went well, I take it?” She nearly jumped out of her skin. She…

When they reached the edge of the forest, a path through the dense growth seemed to open before them, the forest responding to their presence like a living thing. And indeed, Aellyn realized, it was. She pulled a couple small crystals from the pouch at her belt and tossed one to Conrad. He looked from…

Aellyn knocked softly on the beautifully carved door to her mother’s chambers, leaning in to press her ear to the dark wood and listening intently for stirring within. She didn’t want to disturb her mother if she was resting. Her keen ears detected quiet footfalls coming closer. She straightened and waited. There was a quiet…