Blackfeather Woods In the valley of the shadows.

The pair gave Anselm far more respect than he deserved. His gaze flicked from Etienne to Raindrop, who held her head low as if he owned this place. 

He looked around them; here was his throne, on the kingdom of his family’s ruin. 

And this was his first edict, as a boy launched unexpectedly into the role of survivorship. The rendezvous is that vay. He motioned for the densites behind him. 

There would be no further pleasantries, no warm welcome committee— for Anselm’s heart was hurting, and if weren’t for Etienne he may have never lived at all. I vill be at the borders. 

His gaze rested on Etienne for a beat before he stalked stiffly away, disguising his limp until he was out of eyesight.