Shield of Sparrows

A young princess named Odessa stands on a cliffside, fighting with the desire to jump from it. Meanwhile, her sister Mae is pampered as she is readied for her meeting with the warriors their father has invited to the kingdom of Quentis; he intends to marry Mae off to the prince of the kingdom of Turan to satisfy a peace accord known as the Shield of Sparrows. Mae has been trained her entire life for this occasion, as she is not only meant to marry the Turan prince but also to fulfill a secret mission for their father.

Odessa’s fiancé, Banner, greets Odessa on the cliffside. Banner is the general of her father’s forces and reveals that the Turans have brought the infamous Guardian with them to the city of Roslo; Banner despises the Guardian, whom he blames for destroying his family. According to Banner, the Guardian and Banner’s brother fought over a woman in Turah, the Guardian’s home kingdom, which ended in the death of Banner’s brother. Within the last year, Banner’s mother died by suicide because of that loss. With a final reminder not to be late to the meeting, Banner leaves Odessa on the cliffside.