verlooking the valley- her valley once, before the curse and fire. Before Theron's army had clawed its way fro

ned. But this time

nce bore her family's crest. A massive oak tree, blackened and split down the middle, st

wind tugging at his cloak. "Y

blade. "The old magic was buried he

e soil, whispering words on

sed faintly be

l al

e earth answered with a whisper of

ond she had with the old forces. Most magic-users relied on cha

again, a cry rang out

ed toward them, bleeding f

They're branded... shad

ched the edge of camp in moments. The sight tha

reeline. Their eyes glowed silver, inhuman. One of them stepped forward-a tall woman

k of the forsaken

ing fangs. "I w

ed forward.

d. "Daughter of the Rift. T

e other warrio

in the air, like something

do you

ad. "The boy. He be

his voice like ice. "

you can't kill prophecy, wolf. The boy is the Tether. When

Elowen said. "He

only smi

'll see." Her eyes flashed. "Even your blood

ed-no smoke, no

into the trees like sh

lowed, heav

to Elowen. "Wh

o both realms. Light and shadow. Mortal and immortal. T

Cal

dded s

my flame... and

ack. "You told me

marked Calen from the womb. A binding spell woven into his bloodline. I broke w

sed under

ve him. They'l

y. "We stand. We tra

owe

keep running, Calen will never learn to fight wha

ke it. But he kn

Blades," he said. "Th

Even if they spit in my face, they'll want to

d. "You'll

rested. "Lucien will protect him while I'm g

"Then we ride

the sky with quiet fire, Calen sa

ed at h

voices behind the Rift. They whispered his name l

s eyes, all he wanted

age's eyes were soft, but wa

didn't

curse, depending

, "I didn't ask

y. "No one does. But

"What happens i

h you to find it again. Because power

e passed be

the question he

g to becom

the firelight. "Only if

as the forest gave way to ash fields and rock- dead lands, cursed long before she was born. She crossed the Whispering Pass before dawn

e alread

ed with runes that pulsed a dull red. The Grand Matron, Ysara, step

ned, "daughter of the exiled

rode forward, head high.

e owes you

. "The Rift is opening. Theron's followers

pled through

low. "Then the pro

wed her eyes

-but not who. Or when." Ysara studied her

said. "To train him. To s

rned and walked toward the edge of the cliff,

r wards weaken. Our blood thins.

for much. J

nnot stop the Rift. But perhaps...

the younger women-barely old

with you. She's studied the ancient tethe

all nod, eyes sh

lowen said, tr

ra wasn

The boy must come before the Circle

Then I'll handle it.

nodded. "So be it. Ride fast, da

practice ring, sword too big for hi

sidelines, his arms cr

ard and missed th

not a warrior.

move. "And yet

rd aside. "Why can't

destruction." Lucien approached, pi

itated bu

power. But you need control. And to ga

len muttered bitterly.

s you think being afraid makes you weak.

aised his hand-and a surge of w

ey

t u

s not

leamed. "Neithe

Lucien struck with a burst of air, Calen planted his

ed once. "G

es ached and his breath came ragged. But in his chest

so

se lathered and wild-eyed. Kaelen r

rward, wide-eye

ced him tigh

d slightly to Lucien. "I'v

come to help the boy. The Te

ied Calen.

the fire bur

ed reality. She showed him how to feel the lines between light

A fragile, precious calm. Until the m

ng the trees into black silhouettes

and felt her he

've b

ed silver. "The fi

s staff. "We have

warriors clad in iron and oath-magic. They had not aged

h an army," Kieran said

oup-Kaelen, Lucien, Kie

at

is e

ed for battle, Calen stood

red from the mo

nsure if anyone-or

," he said to the night. "I

oved acros

nor female, neither kind

clos

ck to the camp. He didn't know how. But he