For weeks the kingdom had searched for its prince.

Bandits in service to a fallen warlord had taken him during a royal procession and fled deep into the duskwood, hiding within the ruins of an old watchtower swallowed by the forest. Knights had tried and failed to reclaim him, the woods thick with traps and cutthroats.

But Seraphine Valebright did not turn back from such trials.

After days of riding and fighting through the bandits guarding the ruin, the final clash ended beneath the crumbling stone archway of the tower. The last outlaw lay defeated, his blade knocked aside across the moss-covered floor.

Seraphine wiped her sword and pushed open the heavy wooden door leading into the tower’s inner chamber.

Inside, bound to a chair but unharmed, sat the missing prince.

The armored knight stepped forward, her blue cloak settling behind her as moonlight filtered through the broken roof above.

She cut the ropes with a swift motion of her sword.

“You are safe now, Your Highness.”