01. SALRYANNA

She sat alone in her throne room listening to the sounds of the coming war. Not merely coming; it was already here. Right outside, an unexpected strike, a coordinated assault on the castle they had no hope of withstanding, wham, bam, done. A crash. An explosion. An incoming force of arms.

Her eyes closed. She winced with each battle cry, breathed through every crashing door and breaking of glass, even as they came closer and it was clear the invaders were into the main hall. Not long and they would find her now. It was better that it was quick. It would mean less casualties on both sides. Less death. It wasn’t like this castle was truly defended once you made it past the protections of its reputation, and its natural geography, set into the mountain above the valley. And her magic. They’d blown through any magical barrier without pause, which suggested a strong sorcery on the side of the invaders.

She’d sent everyone else away as soon as it became clear what was happening and ordered her soldiers, ceremonial as they were and not even genuinely familiar with the castle, to fight only in self-defence. Run, she’d told them. Resistance was not possible now and she’d not have more blood on her hands than absolutely necessary.

There was too much of that as it was.

Another crash. She breathed out, a shaky gasp, and tried to prepare herself.

Her closest advisor flung open the throne room doors...