Harbour Cities Midland

1034 AE (After Exodus)

On a sunny day in April, Astrid and her best friend sneak out for an illicit trip to the beach below the mighty towers of Harrington House. This visit sets off a whole train of events, leaving one of them damaged and the other lost.

An unnamed young Midlander man, spotting the girls while he is on a scouting mission with his friend, becomes instrumental in the abduction of Astrid later that night, on the eve of her wedding. Indirectly their actions will be catastrophic for both their communities.

On her trip to the White Fort, Astrid will undergo a fate that will echo down her life and that of her captors.

The brothers of Luton monastery, the seat of the Church of Light, who have come to pay Astrid's ransom, find the girl has fled aided by a few new friends. 

Damien sets his people after her.

Astrid's flight through Midland will strengthen the bond with her companions, especially with the young Midlander, now called Jonah, who tries to redeem himself and finds himself falling in love with her.

They travel the Badlands, the Dark Towers and visit Sinatown, meeting people from the various tribes of Midland.

Astrid gets to know and trust her companions.

The feelings Astrid and Jonah have for each other push and pull them in many directions. The attraction is strong, but life has a way to intervene.

In the end, they both have to make an important decision.

On another beautiful spring day, Astrid, standing on the forecastle of a merchant ship, finally finds herself looking up at Harrington castle, wondering if it will still feel like home. It has been a year. She has learned so much about the world and had to leave so much behind.