Gaelin sniffled as he hugged his knees, his body wracked with a shiver. The cell was cold, and his clothes were ragged — two things he’s never experienced before. Those, and the pain from his busted lip, his bruised cheek.

How had this happened? he silently lamented. One moment he was traveling from one kingdom to another, and the next, he was shoved around and thrown into this cold, damp cell. He didn’t even know where he was, nor who had captured him.

“I just want to go home,” he begged, not knowing if any even heard.