Long ago was an unrecorded distant land mostly populated on the shoreline. Its southern terrain was mostly rolling hills and dales while a smaller section to the north was mountainous. The tallest mountain loomed high above a cliff along the shore. On the other side it faced a vast valley rich with vegetation. At the base of this mountain, the top of which was partially blown off before the dawn of man, there had been built a millennium ago an enormous castle. Behind this fortress — even long before — slanting off and up was a long, twisting narrow passage with steps ascending and then descending into a wide cavern....

Bryan and Lance rode hard from dawn to dusk for three days before lush rolling plains of the kingdom finally gave way to a barren misty moor that stretched for another two days when the bogs yielded to rugged, desolate foothills of the northern mountain chain where they camped for the night. While Bryan searched for firewood, Lance unsaddled their horses and fed them oats. Low on water, he could barely cover the bottom of their feed bag. He corked the vessel without drinking from it himself and laid it by the saddles. Bryan returned empty handed.

Days following Bryan and her brother's departure, Rhonda avoided her father and Erinysia early in the mornings by stopping off at the kitchen out-building to grab two apples, cutting one in half. On her way to the stables she would eat one and save the core for a colt of her favorite mare. She would then feed each half to her horse and her brother's. Having her horse saddled she then would lead Stars to the pasture where she would watch him graze while she day-dreamed her happy childhood days when her mother used to take her riding, or when her brother would frolic with her when not teaching her two-handed swordsmanship with a small single-handed sword. On her return to the stables she would redress Stars leg after soaking it in warm water. Each morning she expected to see progress but the horse continued to limp.