Chosen Path

TORI WALKED away from Duke Luwen Rozenreff without the pent-up disappointment that she used to harbor whenever she spoke to him. As she spoke to Cory, Tori knew that her father was walking a path that he chose. She could even empathize with him since she knew firsthand that Sabina was not the person she portrayed in front of their father. Walking away from them meant that finally drawn the line between friends and foes.

As she stepped outside the buzzing cathedral, every eye was on her but it immediately shifted when a looming figure stood before her. Smiling gently, she greeted him with a curtsy for everyone to witness. "Blessings to the Empire's northern lord, Chief Keiran Arin."

Collective gasps followed by buzzing whispers resounded around them as Tori and her companions with the newly arrived ragged-looking Chieftain Kieran stood at the middle of the higher echelon's gossip circle.

"Lady Victoria, Prince Yei Lin, and Duke Castaña." The young Chieftain of the North greeted them wi