As a child, Morlea's handmaid wove wondrous tales to amuse her. Among these stories was the legend of Talitha, a princess like Morlea herself, trapped in a tower whose walls wept at her unjust imprisonment. An evil wizard hid her away until a prince could save her, then struck the land and its people barren to prevent any attempt at rescue.<br><br>Morlea believes the story nothing more than a fantasy until, years later, she discovers a possible location for the fabled tower. Dissatisfied with palace life and looking for adventure, she decides to chase down Talitha on her own.<br><br>A princess needs to be rescued, of course. And if there aren't any able-bodied princes up to the task, why can't another princess be the savior for once?

Runes of the Quest

He grimaced.“Give it time.Someone else will come…some man—”


“She’s only human,”I spat.“Why should she have to waste her life away waiting for a prince who never appears?Her best years will be stripped away,lost in pining for some manwho came too late.Why shouldn’t we rescue her instead?”


But his protest was cut off by my second bolt as I released it deep into his neck.Blood splashed his mount—myhorse,my father’s—and he gurgled once before toppling over Knight’s flank to join his sword where it lay amid the undergrowth.


“It doesn’t have to be right,”I answered.“It just is.”


With Knight tethered to my current steed,Lith and I continued our journey.The closeness of the quest’s end sung in my blood,and this little diversion was proof what I sought was within my grasp.


Chapter 6