There was a new fellow at the smithy one warm spring morning when Todd had stopped in with a delivery.

He seemed a bit old to be an apprentice and not nearly charred enough, but Todd didn't think about that til later.

Instead, he thought about the fellow's smile and his friendly voice and other things until his own employer bounced a crumpled order slip off his head.

But Todd couldn't help himself, not as spring turned to summer and deliveries increased.

Rumors came of an exiled prince.

Todd never saw him again.