The Wars of the Roses tore through England like a violent storm, leaving chaos and bloodshed in its wake.Dick was just shy of eighteen, living under the watchful eye of Sir Daniel Brackley, his guardian. But let me tell you, something wasn't quite right in that place. It was like walking on eggshells all the time, you know? Dick couldn't shake this nagging feeling about his past, especially when it came to his dad's death.Now, Sir Daniel Brackley, he was a real piece of work. Imagine a guy who could switch sides in this war faster than you could say "York" or "Lancaster." He was like a chameleon, changing colors to blend in wherever it suited him best. And Tunstall Moat House?Walking through the village was like stepping into a different world. The people there, man, they looked like they hadn't seen a good meal in years. Their faces were all sunken in, and their eyes? They'd dart around like scared rabbits whenever Sir Daniel's men showed up. Speaking of those guys, Bennet Hatch was the worst of the bunch.But it wasn't all doom and gloom for Dick. He'd found an unlikely friend in Sir Oliver Oates, the local priest. This guy was like a cool breeze on a hot summer day, you know? He had these kind eyes and a way about him that just put you at ease.So one day, Dick's poking around the castle, as you do when you're a curious teenager stuck in a massive old place like that. And wouldn't you know it, he overhears Sir Daniel and Sir Oliver talking in whispers. They're cooking up this scheme to marry Dick off, and it's not because they want to see him happy.Talk about a gut punch, right? Dick had always thought Sir Daniel was looking out for him, in his own gruff way. But this? This changed everything.From that moment on, Dick couldn't look at his guardian the same way. He started paying attention to all the little things, you know? The hushed conversations, the shifty looks. And boy, did he uncover some dirt.As the days went by, you could cut the tension in that place with a knife. Dick felt it every time he walked into a room, every time someone looked at him sideways.Dick knew he was standing at a crossroads, and the path ahead looked about as clear as mud. But one thing was crystal - he couldn't keep living this lie.Every night, as he lay in bed listening to the wind howling around the towers like a pack of hungry wolves, Dick's mind would race. He was on the edge of manhood, and he felt this burning in his gut, this need to break free and find his own way.Little did Dick know, his search for answers was about to send him on a wild ride.As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Dick made a decision. He couldn't stay at Tunstall Moat House another day. With his heart pounding like a drum, he grabbed a few essentials and slipped out of the castle. The forest beckoned, dark and mysterious, promising both danger and the answers he sought.