As the weather warms, young Mistress Jana Trence burns with the need of adventure. The general's headstrong daughter, she knows it's dangerous beyond the walls of her hometown, but a picnic in the green meadow sounds safe enough. She manages to talk her servant and best friend, Merlie, into coming along for a quick lunch. Once beyond the walls of Ouest, Jana grows daring and races into the woods, Merlie at her heels. But the woods are full of strong magic neither girl can fight against. When Merlie is injured, Jana knows her father will learn of their little excursion, and she fears his punishment. But she fears losing Merlie more. Can the Emperor's physician treat the servant's wounds? Or will it take something stronger to heal Merlie?

The Scar

Jana felt her tunic quickly become drenched with blood. Ouest was only a few yards away, just beyond the forest, but it seemed as if it were a hundred leagues, and weariness sank deep into her limbs, an ache settling right between her shoulders. She hefted Merlie up a bit more and, with an arm around her servant’s waist, she tried to hurry. 


She didn’t even notice Merlie had used her common name. 


Jana staggered through the gates of the city, Merlie growing heavier in her arms by the step. The servant was barely conscious. Jana kept mumbling a litany of encouragement under her breath. “Almost there, few steps more, almost there.” She’d forgotten which one of them it was meant to encourage. 


Chapter 3