Opening scene: Set in the upper estates of the kingdom of Buclaminta. Hild, a slave, is on his way home from working in the orchards and is attacked by a Kadai guard. He meets Sheehan Kasyl and learns that he must escape into the desert. This chapter briefly introduces our main female protagonist, Razya, who will be in the following chapter, and will meet up with Hild later in the story.
CHAPTER 1
TWELVE TOLLS
It was just days into harvest and Hild’s neck and cheeks were already stained pink from the sun. He swung the leather satchel of plums over his shoulder and glance