How it pains me to find you were not at home when I awoke from my slumber. Talia
explained that I was injured during the jousting, which seems so long ago now with you gone.
Mother has seethed ever since you left, even with me waking unharmed, as if nothing happened at all. I
wonder if you had something to do with that.
She explained to me you had been taken, stolen away by some king in the valley. I did not even know there
was another king. I must ask, could you please send word that you are safe? That I know my sweet sister is
happy.
Father sent me along with Uncle Dorian to come to your rescue, but we’ve found a snag in our plans. This
land is coated with some sort of protection spell. Magic! Can you believe it still exists!?
I miss you.
I wish I could just wrap my arms around you and hold you close, and then of course, feel you slap me for
being too much. But after my near-death experience, I wouldn't care. I know how much family means and true
happiness means..
Dorian has said if we do not get word from you in three short days, we are to start breaking down the
barrier with our own mage’s. So please, for the sake of the people of this land, come home.
It’s not the same without you.
If you don’t, and you’d rather stay, then I am afraid my orders are to bring you home, dead, or alive.
Your brother,
Norok.
My throat went dry with his last words. I’d expected him to understand, to want me to be happy. At least to give me the
benefit of the doubt if he suspected I had something to do with his healing. If it wasn’t for the fact I could now feel Nic
breathing down my neck as anger ran through him, I’d have thrown the letter in the fireplace. Said it meant nothing, just an I
miss you letter.
No, instead he’d walked in as I’d read the final passage, and I could feel his anger rolling down my spine.
“Dead or alive.”
It wasn’t a question, but a statement that ran across his tongue. A snarl deep within his throat echoed around the room and I
shuddered at the sound.
“He will have a hard time getting to you while I am at your side.”
“Wasn’t it you, who only a week ago wanted me dead?” I asked, trying to cover my nerves with sarcasm.
“That is different. He thinks he will be allowed to live after threateningmy wife?”
