Chapter 1
Out in the south of Mossflower country, a fox standing on the balcony of her palace looked out at the dark gray clouds that gathered in the sky. A wet drop hit her nose. Rain. She thought grudgingly. Rain meant that she had to cancel mining for the day to ensure that she didn't lose any slaves while the rain softened the dirt and made the tunnels collapse.
"Ahti!" she barked for her apprentice.
"Yes, Queen Rusudania?" Ahti asked.
"Tell every slave to evacuate the tunnels."
"Yes, my queen."
All of the slaves were gathered in a matter of minutes. Rusudania walked over to one of her guards; a stoat named Fleck. "Are all the slaves in?" she asked.
"All but one," Fleck replied. "We lost the hare, Quince."
"Did he escape?" Rusudania growled.
"No. He attacked Mudbelly and Duskclaw, and Mudbelly grabbed his dagger and stabbed him. Oh, and one more thing, your cousin Slagar is visiting today. I don't know when he'll arrive, but keep an eye out."
"Thank you Fleck." Rusudania replied. "I will wait for his arrival."
At the crack of dawn, Rusudania got up from her bed and looked out the window. There was still no sign of Slagar. Rusudania undressed from her nightgown and dressed into one of her favorite robes.
"Rusudania!" Ahti cried.
"What is it?" Rusudania asked.
"Slagar the Cruel has come!"