“You’re what?” Urunai exclaimed.
The Season Garden was completely quiet, apart from Urunai’s current state of shock. The gold leaves from the cherry tree covered the ground, making it glow in the late-afternoon sunlight. Along the walls were flowerbeds filled with all manner of orange, yellow and red autumn flowers, occasionally broken by a cluster of purple orchids or pale blue forget-me-nots.
“I’m moving away,” Katie replied sadly. “Daddy says that the king and everyone who works in the palace is in trouble, though he won’t tell me why.”
“I won’t let you go!” Urunai shouted, desperately trying to take control of the situation. “You can stay here, with me.”
“I don’t want to go,” Katie replied. “But I don’t have any other choice.”
She wrapped her arms around him and sobbed into his shirt.
Both of them knew the implications of Katie moving. Azaarihl City was only a few hours away by carriage. If she did move away, then there was no guarantee that they would be able to see each other as often as they did, if at all, and that just made the situation even harder.
“Katia!” Lord Aran called. “Come on, it’s time to leave!”
Katie pushed herself away from Urunai’s chest. “Bye-bye, Urunai,” she said. “I really wish we could be together like this forever.”
“Don’t be away too long,” Urunai said as Katie started to walk away.
She stopped and turned around and said sadly, “Goodbye, Urunai.”
And, with that, she left. As soon as she was gone, Urunai burst into tears.
I can’t believe that was ten years ago, Urunai thought as he sat in the carriage. So much has changed since then...
The carriage stopped suddenly, distracting Urunai from his thoughts. The horses pulling the carriage brayed in terror at whatever had stopped them. Urunai slowly opened the door and got out. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Why have we stopped?”
“Shut up!” demanded the masked man standing in front of the carriage. “Just give me all of your valuables and I won’t have to hurt you!”









