Shadows of light

t 1

with silence-and the aching question of wheth

trail that wound between low cliffs and golden fields. The air was c

his pack slung over his shoulder, his hea

three steps ahead. She didn't wait for him. Didn't ask if he needed

stions. Hund

sn't read

t

to

d with rocks and pale trees. A long ridge stretched along the far

a st

ng east. "We need to reach the Sanc

ays. "And what hap

dn't a

n five words at a time. You did just drag me f

m. "You can stay behi

y an optio

said. "I

. "Right. Ju

ept wa

beat down through thinning trees. Kael's feet ached. His shoul

icked a

er smile?"

m a brief, dr

au

rel

li

blin

ked. "G

almost

mo

g. Her posture stiffened again, a

. "Do you fe

once. "We'r

ush cam

bly. Not shadowspawn, but desperate men in tatt

ed back in

a di

faster tha

the thigh. He screamed and fell. The second lunged for her-but Kael stepp

across the

like a sack

hest heaving, still

stared

," she sa

m not going to stand there like a d

time, her expr

appr

resp

lic

nscious bodies off th

spering grass. Liora lit a fire with a simple spell-her fingers

from her, rubbin

before," he said. "The fightin

hav

how l

my

re. "You were raised

dn't a

ter's kid. Or... I was." His voice broke

he said. "That mak

red. "Tell that t

sharply, but Ka

t," he said. "I want to be u

was

, "You were u

bli

"But standing your ground against tha

s that your way of

the fire. "Don't

ls, Kael stared up at the stars. The sky here was clear

o you think we'r

Liora

t looking at him. Ju

wspawn?"

fa

2 o

rning, the

der-stone, ash, and silence. The sky had gone gray, overcast. The trees ben

eaking, their footfalls muffled

idge and saw it: a village.

broken mouths. Ivy and rot had reclaimed the wood. Birds circl

hroat ti

e Eldor," he

n't attacked recently

feels h

t

autiously, her senses alert. Kael tried not

cked stones. A dry fountain stood at the center,

this place,"

uare and paused, eyes nar

ask, a voice calle

uldn't h

tur

a long coat draped over his thin shoulders. His eyes

d. "The Balance. I can

ack. "How do y

. "Long ago. Before the shadows came for us. I tol

forward. "What

cade ago. Just after the last marke

went

The child... w

l. "Not quite. He did

rt while. He remembered little, b

s jealousy. It draws fear. Be careful who you trus

't know w

ra

she said, and the

the ridge. Kael kept glancing back at the ruined

-his mar

len

chest. The glow beneath his

d immediate

His head spun. The world

ide him was b

him now, grabbing his s

t's-" he gasped.

she said. "Foc

-not pain this time, but l

dang

er voice firm but calm. "Do

r hands touched his che

e body t

the light

ting outward across the trail. It knocked back leaves. Shook

it

against her, br

im before he h

-his head against her shoulder, her

pered, "What the

y. "The power's responding to emotio

still shaking. "I did

aid. "You protected

him longer tha

d and offered

too

ent-their fin

ire was small, and thei

g the flame flic

et me fall back

ould

t trust me

said softly. "But y

nd for once, her silv

m. Curious. A

an I ask you som

can

felt this kind of

hesi

whole life to resist it. Maybe that

"It's loud

idn't

didn't

the dark, som

cl

watc

it