Moonlight Betrayal

gues slipped through the frost-covered brush toward the

cient runes scrawled across the entryway. Most of Black

ped bu

sp in the cold. "The wards here are old. F

ushing aside dead vines. The door creaked open, re

regret," Orren mutter

said. "Then

llowed and only torchfire remained. The air turned heavy,

bed. Ryker's fingers brushed the stone beside him, landi

a moment

ving," h

lowed him, silen

ned on the southern woods. She could feel the tension

ards - the ones they buried ben

osed h

as h

ood stiff beside her. "Send the Ni

"You swore we'd ne

lie

and left, the door

oments later, al

unleashed them," the girl said softly.

dge of the map tabl

Then this is the part

pulsed. Not with light - with warning. Arcane symbols hidden beneath

p," Dax said. "Kaida kn

know me too well

hoed ahead. The rogues halted. Ryke

eme

ng was

ns," he

ring. Wet. And then they appeared: three Nightbinders, their cloaks black as pitch, faces masked wi

eaking in an ancient to

didn't

s, Kaida?" he growled, stepping

tbinders

irit flame toward Dax, who rolled under it, barely avoiding a scorch of soul-fire.

didn't

cha

ell. Claw me

his dagger plunging deep into its ribs. It shriek

net of soul-thread, but Ryker's wolf su

ned, seared his arms

ng the mage's face and slamming it into the s

ed to flee, Orren ran it down

lent again, save f

ies?" Ry

ax said. "One

barrier on his wolf was almost gone. He could feel it.

aid aloud. "Kaida's

ng they'd kill her own men if they had to

nd - where a faint breeze whispere

aid. "That

her hands shaking as she washed the blood from her palms. T

first barrier," Thor

he inner gates. Prepa

idened. "That's

s ti

ath Black-fang's main hall. Dust fell in waves.The corridor o

r didn't

to take so

ust w

ust h

hims

da stood i

urn with the