PROLOGUE :
I screamed, my voice lost amidst the roar of the inferno surrounding me. The once-majestic palace was now an abyss of flames, engulfing everything in its path. Panic-stricken soldiers rushed past, their cries echoing through the chaos. I stumbled forward, disoriented, as the acrid smell of smoke filled my lungs.
"My lady, we must escape!" Anne, my loyal servant, grasped my arm, her face pale and trembling. "We're under attack!" Her words pierced the haze, and I regained some composure.
"Where's Father?" I demanded, my heart racing. "Is he safe?" Anne's eyes welled up with tears.
"I don't know, my lady. He might be at the frontline, commanding the army, but..." Her voice trailed off, uncertainty etched on her face.
A knight approached, his armor battered and soot-stained. "My lady, allow me to escort you to safety outside the kingdom." His urgency was palpable.
"No!" I resisted, my mind racing. "What about those fighting outside? We can't abandon them!" I tried to push past the knight, determined to find my father.
Just as I was about to re-enter the palace, a searing pain struck the back of my neck. My legs buckled, and I collapsed, darkness closing in around me. Anne's terrified scream was the last thing I heard.