Chapter One
The Beginning
Beyond the village, the mountains were still silver with the last of winter. The road curved through fields of early green, disappearing where the forest met the morning mist.
Elian paused at the old stone bridge. Behind him lay the life he had always known; ahead, a country spoken of only in whispers and stories.
He tightened the strap of his worn leather bag and stepped forward. Whatever waited beyond the trees, there could be no turning back now.
For the first time in years, the thought did not frighten him.