After a long day's journey across dusty roads, Prince Alaric and his weary escorts finally sought refuge for the night in a modest roadside inn.
Though the prince now bore the shame of exile, his bloodline still commanded a certain reverence; he was, after all, the eldest son of King Heimdal.
The royal guards, bound by duty to follow the crown prince's order to make Alaric's journey as arduous as possible, found themselves caught between loyalty and conscience. In their hearts, they believed the king had erred—banishing a noble heir who many still whispered was blameless in the tragic death of the first queen. They were all aware that King Heimdal did not favor Prince Alaric. He hated him because, in his mind, he caused the first queen's early demise.
Yet they reminded themselves that exile, bitter as it was, spared the prince a darker fate.
