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I woke before dawn to the sound of screaming. For a moment, I remained tangled beneath my blankets while confusion clouded my thoughts and I wondered if I had been pulled from sleep by a nightmare. The castle was always quiet at this hour because most of the servants did not begin their duties until sunrise, yet frantic footsteps pounded through the corridor outside my chambers and distant voices echoed through the stone walls. Then the bells began to ring. The sound rolled across the capital like thunder and my eyes snapped open. Alarm bells. My heart immediately started racing. I pushed myself upright and swung my legs over the edge of the bed just as the door burst open and my maid hurried inside carrying a fresh gown. "Your Highness, you're awake." She said. although relief did not soften her expression because she looked terrified. "What is happening?" I asked. The woman hesitated and her fingers tightened around the fabric in her arms. "I don't know." She said but I knew that she was lying. I had grown up in the royal court and I had spent years surrounded by nobles who lied as naturally as they breathed. The fear in her eyes told me she knew exactly what was happening. The bells continued ringing while more shouting erupted somewhere beyond my chambers and I stood and crossed the room quickly. Outside my window, a dark plume of smoke rose into the pale morning sky and my stomach dropped. The war. The fighting had been growing worse for months and every report arriving from the front lines had carried more bad news than the last. My father always insisted victory remained within reach and the court repeated his words faithfully, but even I had begun doubting those promises. "Where is my father?" I asked. "He is still with the army." She said and the knot in my stomach tightened so I moved toward the door. "Princess, you shouldn't leave your chambers." She said urgently but I ignored her warning. The moment I stepped into the corridor, chaos sur
