The Path of Balance

ng forgotten. Far below, the village of Eldermere huddled beneath a sky swollen with storm clouds. O

hm of farmwork and quiet dreams. But the boy's heart beat to a different cadence-a restless call he cou

e: The Map

r came wi

to the leg of a hawk he had never seen before. He'd unfastened it with trembling fingers and now sat benea

ut the journey is not what you think it

pened, revealed a crude map. It showed places Elias had only heard of in

Elias whisper

rees now, are you?"

gging at his lips. Kael Vey was his oldest friend-and the closest thing to a br

" Elias shot back, though

him, his gaze falling t

t the letter made him wary, but

gn," Elias said quiet

long moment, his grin f

know what's out there.

s a child. Why his father had died with a secret on his lips. And why the old s

back of his neck. "Then