Nari knows the rumors about Arrowood. Forbidden magic. Illegal crossbreeding. Strange howls in the night. Should she go through with the wedding anyway? As Nari rides toward Arrowood and her new home, her head is elsewhere. Soon, she will be marrying the clan chief's handsome son. Their rites of binding must go off without a hitch. Every detail of the ceremony needs to demonstrate unity between the two rival clans, as Nari of Tanglewood weds Mordahn of Arrowood. Nari hears the sound of horses' hooves pounding the trail up ahead and frowns. Why is her fiancé riding out to greet her, here in this isolated stretch of road, wearing chainmail and bearing arms? **The events in this standalone novella occur 50 years before Lady Apprentice and provide a great introduction to the series!** Praise for the award-winning Serving Magic series: "A captivating fantasy adventure with a relatable female protagonist. Highly recommended! " (The Wishing Shelf, for LADY APPRENTICE) "Airy, fun and brimming with magic...a rollicking fantasy adventure of enchanting proportions." (Indies Today, for LADY SPY) "This series has everything I love in a good young adult fantasy novel...a powerful protagonist, a strong plot, dry humor, and a romantic interest that our protagonist resists..." (Readers Favorite, for LADY LIEGE)