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

“I’m sorry about this morning,”Lith said again,for what had to be the hundredth time.


All day she had been apologizing,and my anger had long since dissipated into annoyance.Now,as we rolled into our bedding for the night,here she was starting again.I sighed.“It’s all right.Just see it doesn’t happen in the future.”


“I won’t,”she assured me.Something in her voice made me believe she meant it.


But I couldn’t just drift off to sleep.The whole scene still bothered me.Without turning to face her in the darkness,I asked,“How did they catch you?I mean,with that cloak and all,how did they even see you?”“That old woman,Friya,”she told me.“It was she who alerted the others to my presence.As I crept past everyone into the camp,only her eyes followed me.”


Chapter 5