The Emperor's Betrothed Consort

Ten

S queezing through the narrow gap was difficult but not impossible, and once I had my head and shoulders through, the rest was just wiggling hard enough to make it.

Outside felt like an entirely different world. The cavern had been so cold it had seeped into my bones, and now, the rest of the world made my skin twitch and tremble, the heat almost too much. I glared at the setting sun, turning to look, trying to get oriented.

Everything was trees and rocks, high hills with forest blocking my view of everything. The trees were so tall they seemed to touch the sun, the lower branches scarred from fires. I had no idea where I was.