Page 1 of Foundling

Prologue

In the darkness, the border of the faelands glowed faintly purple, an ominous shadow of light streaking through the wilderness.

Leita’s breaths came in heaving pants, her hand trembling in her sister Lilibet’s hold. This night was the strangest of Leita’s young life, so strange that her belief hadn’t quite caught up to them.

That was all right, so long as the Queen’s guards didn’t catch them up first.

“Where’s papa?” Leita whispered. He’d said he would meet them here.

Even in the gloom of night, their mother Morena’s pain was clear on her face.

It was their papa’s idea to leave Fallorian some weeks ago. Leita hadn’t known why, just that all the royal children were being watched over by the looming guards. One by one, royal families had left for the countryside or hinterlands, not liking how the Queen suddenly wished for all the royal children to stay in her quarters, where she could protect them.

“He’s bought us the time we need,” Lilibet explained, squeezing Leita’s hand. “And now we’re going to do the same for you.”

“What?” Leita’s heart and magic clenched inside her. Although twenty, she wasn’t so young that she didn’t understand how Lilibet’s words placed her and their mother together—and Leita by herself. Across the border.

“It has to be here,” Morena said, her white hair stuck to her skull with sweat and blood. “The border is weaker at streams and other natural features.”

Leita looked down at the dark, churning water, recoiling from the idea of stepping into it.

“I don’t want to…”

“You must.” Kneeling before her, Morena took hold of Leita’s shoulders, her ashen face starkly serious. “It’s the only way, love. You must get beyond the border, where she can’t reach you.”

“Let’s all go,” Leita said, although her mother and older sister didn’t seem to hear.

They both led her by the hands to the stream, pushing her in. Cold water cut through her boots to sear her ankles, and Leita couldn’t help a yip of surprise.

“Shh!” Morena urged.

Leita bit her tongue as all three crouched in silence, waiting for any small noise.

She didn’t know how many guards followed them from their estate—just that many torches had lit the lane approaching their gate. She’d been trying to count them all when Lilibet pulled her away from the window and shoved her feet into sturdy boots.

When not even the forest animals stirred, Morena began to move. Over Leita’s shoulder she looped a heavy pack before knotting a cloak at her throat.

“This should be enough for…” Morena’s smile was aggrieved. Grabbing Leita’s face, she kissed her forehead and hair.

Leita could smell the salt of her mother’s tears.

Lilibet was next, kissing her cheek and squeezing her tight. “Run,” she told Leita, “never stop running.”

Leita blinked back tears. “Why aren’t you coming?”

They turned her round and urged her upstream, toward the eerily glowing wall of magic. Leita leaned backwards into their hands, not wanting to go.

“Wait…”

“Get ready,” Morena told Lilibet.

“Wait!”

Morena slapped her hand on the border, purple ripples flashing across its face and on down the wall. From somewhere else in the forest, a unicorn screamed and indistinct voices cried out.

Leita’s hands and cheek pressed against the border, caught between it and her sister’s pushing hands. Smushed against the barrier, tears welled in Leita’s eyes as the pressure pushed at her from either side.

“Stop,” she wailed, “you’ll squish me!”