Prologue
England, 1392
Laughter rang across the small gladelike a gentle breeze and bounced off the tall trees. Birds exploded from the branches in a wave and spiraled upward into the sky.
“Come on, Ari,” a boy’s voice called. “Keep up!”
“I’m ahead of you, Finn.Youkeep up!” Ari replied merrily, her voice echoing through the clearing.
The two children, a girl and a boy of twelve summers each, burst from the brush and bounded through the field of tall stalks. The girl held her skirts above her knees as she pumped her long legs rhythmically, and her long, golden locks swished behind her, bouncing on her shoulders and back. Her cheeks were flushed and beaming with exertion. She clutched a red rose in her fist.
Finn raced beside her, his dark hair fanning away from his face. He wore a cream tunic and brown breeches. His smile shone like the sun through clouds.
When a trio of figures emerged from the trees ahead, blocking their path, Finn skidded to a halt, dread slithering through him, sucking away all the joyous energy he’d felt a moment ago.
Ari stopped beside him, frowning fiercely.
The three boys stood in eerie silence, eyeing them with contemptuous glares. They seemed to fill the clearing like a thick fog, daring the children to pass unchallenged.
“What have we here?” one of the three boys with blond hair asked, his gaze moving from Ari to Finn.
Ari lifted her chin and stepped toward the boys. “Leave us alone, Kage.”
Kage’s gaze dropped to the rose in her hand.
Her eyes widened, and she attempted to hide the flower behind her back, but Kage snatched it from her fingers.
“Give it back,” Finn demanded.
Kage stared at the red rose thoughtfully. “Why would a young lady of the castle play with a blacksmith’s son?” His glare shifted to Finn.
Finn stepped forward defiantly, his shoulders back and chin raised. “She can play with whoever she wants. Now give it back to her.” He reached for the flower, but Kage moved it out of his grasp.
“Finn,” Ari said, grabbing his arm. “Let’s go.”
Finn knew Ari was worried that Kage would hurt him, and this only made him more determined to prove Kage was not a threat. He was only a year younger than Kage and not that much shorter. “He still has your flower,” Finn replied through thinned lips.
“I’ll get another one,” she said, tugging at his arm.
Kage glanced back at his two friends with a smile. He tossed the rose to the ground and fastened his arm around Finn’s neck in a head lock. “How many times am I going to have to show you that I am stronger?”
“Leave him alone!” Ari cried and hit Kage’s arm with a fist.
One of Kage’s friends pulled her away, holding her back.
“Finn!” she called.
Finn frantically struggled in Kage’s grip, trying to pry himself free.
“With no proper training, you can’t win against me.” Kage laughed.
Angry at the truth in his words, Finn stomped on Kage’s foot, and Kage howled, releasing him. “I don’t need proper training against you.”
“Run!” Ari shouted, her voice echoing through the glade.
Finn turned to flee, but his feet were rooted to the spot. He gazed at Ari with tortured eyes. He couldn’t leave her. As he gazed at her, Kage’s fist connected with his chin like a hammer, sending him careening backward onto his bottom.
“Finn!” Ari screamed.
