THE ROTTEN HAND OF THE KING

Luciana was back in the king's palace. It was one place she vowed never to come back to.He walked out of the cabin with an empty bag in his hand, which he turned upside down and began shaking. As he continued to shake the bag, bread crumbs and dust poured outside before he put it back across his shoulders. He was living uphill and could see the marketplace below him as he looked down. He searched about in his pocket and discovered several coins. It wasn't enough money to get him a decent meal, but it would certainly get him enough food to see him through the night. At the very least, it was preferable to sleeping on an empty stomach like some of the market villagers.

Nelanian had taken refuge in an unfamiliar village, cut off from the outside world. It was a primitive village that relied solely on its agricultural prowess and a strong belief in the ways of the past. In the village, there was little to no technical advancement. The only obvious trace of technolog