Part One: "You Don’t Know Who You’re Dealing With"

   Ardranath stormed out of the room, fuming. But even after he slammed the door, he could hear his mother- his stepmother- weeping. The sound of her tears caused his to hesitate and ask himself why he hated her so much.

No, he didn’t hate her. That was a word reserved just for Noorsaah, his father. He only resented his stepmother- which was likely his father’s fault. He had brought her there, all too soon after what had happened. His son’s wounds hadn’t healed, and now he was sworn to resent that woman forever.