Wow. The entire guest wing is gone. In its place, ashes. The king, a couple royal advisors, a couple guards, the captain of the guards, and I stand here. Not even William is allowed in.

“Um, sir?” I ask the king “I don’t mean to disturb, but we can find no evidence. Of anything. We have nothing that leads us anywhere. All the witnesses remember nothing from the incident. All we can find are ashes.”

“Well keep your lazy, useless self working. Tell everyone except the guards to leave.” And he stalks off. I sigh, I shouldn’t have yelled at him.

Knowing I can’t argue, I walk off. I worked all day, everyday, for six years. I was only allowed ten days off in the entire six years. SIX YEARS! And I get treated like dirt! Even as a general, I am the least important and I am always overlooked. How is THAT fair?

I mumble to the advisors and the captain and continue to work. After an hour of tiring work I’m ready to leave, but I can’t. Just then I spot a book. Inside it read in fancy cursive:

I wish I could leave this dreadful place. Everyday, I hope for a way out, but with the mountains, I cannot. Only father can open the entrance in the mountains. I cannot run.

Is this Sapphire’s? Why is this here?

I can only leave one way. And I never want to go there again. I made a deal with Zachariah. I have to fall in love with someone who also shares the same feelings. I have six months until my deadline.

Deadline? Was… was that why there was an explosion? I quickly shove the book into my jacket and run out of the hall. Williams tries to ask me something, but I run past him.