Thomas was talking to his wife, Annali, and their twelve-year-old daughter, Ember. That was Finn’s mom and sister, his family, but Finn wasn’t around. Thomas kept his voice hushed, but Annali was insistent. Ember kept trying to pul away, but Annali had a firm grip on her arm and wouldn’t let her go.

“Thomas, if it’s that dangerous, you and Finn should come with us,” Annali said, staring up at him. “He is my son too, and I don’t want him in harm’s way because of some misplaced sense of duty.”

“It’s not misplaced, Annali,” Thomas sighed. “This is to protect our kingdom.”

“Our kingdom?” Annali scoffed. “What has this kingdom ever done for us? They barely pay you enough to feed our children! I have to raise goats to keep a roof over our head!”

“Annali, hush.” Thomas held his hands up to her. “People wil hear you.”

“I don’t care if they hear me!” Annali shouted, raising her voice.

“Let them hear me! I hope they banish us! I want them to! Then finaly we can be a family instead of being ruled by this awful monarchy!”

“Mom, don’t say that.” Ember squirmed and puled away from her mother. “I don’t want to be banished. Al my friends are here.”

“You’l make new friends, Ember, but you only have one family,” Annali said.

“Which is exactly why you need to go away,” Thomas said.

“It’s not safe here. The Vittra wil be coming very soon, and you need to be hidden.”

“I wil not go away without you or my son,” Annali said firmly.

“I have stood by you through much worse, and I wil not lose you now.”

“I wil be safe,” Thomas said. “I can fight. So can Finn. You need to protect our daughter. When this is al over, we can go away together, if that’s what you want. I promise you I wil leave with you.

But right now, you need to take Ember.”

“I don’t want to go!” Ember whined. “I want to help you fight!

I’m as strong as Finn!”

“Please,” Thomas begged. “I need you safe.”

“Where do you expect us to go?” Annali asked.

“Your sister is married to a Kanin,” Thomas said. “You can stay with them. Nobody wil look for you there.”

“How wil I know when you’re safe?” Annali asked.

“I’l come for you when it’s over,” Thomas said.

“What if you never come?” Annali asked.

“I wil come for you,” Thomas said firmly. “Now go. I don’t want you traveling at the same time as the Vittra. They’re not something you want to mess with.”

“Where is Finn?” Annali asked. “I want to say goodbye to him.”

“He’s with the other trackers,” Thomas said. “Go home. Pack your things. I’l send him down to talk to you.”