Before Bear, there was Taran. And Taran never had a chance—not with his bad luck.

After being falsely accused of killing his mother, Taran ran away to avoid the noose. He hasn’t stopped running since, even with warrants out for his arrest and criminals haunting the lonely dirt roads between cities. With nowhere to go and nothing to lose, Taran will have to fight tooth and nail against murderous thieves, corrupt lords, and religious zealots to keep his freedom—else he’ll hang from the gallows before the true journey even begins.