Chapter 16

Taryn

“Do you know the story of how I took my father’s place when I was only five?” Taryn shook her head. “Your uncle, the usurper, had surrounded our castle and taken one of my older sisters. He had given terms to my father, Lord of Sneaf, before me. Kneel down and proclaim me the only king of Elder and I will spare your daughter’s life, he had told him.” Taront shook his head and turned to look toward the open window. “My father was forced to obey him, my older sister was Sneaf’s heir. In our family, there has always been the custom that the firstborn, man or woman, would take command of our house. My sister, Tamara, was my father’s heir, and he wanted to save her at all costs.”

He smiled sadly and looked back at her.

“So one night, he took most of his strength and met with the usurper, leaving my pregnant mother and me alone at the castle. I do not know exactly what happened at the meeting of the usurper, I have few clues and through the survivors of that atrocity, men who managed t