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Rain entered the protective bubble of air and felt a strange chill go through her body. As soon as she was through, she could see everyone in the chairs around the table. Everything outside of the small area was blurry.

She recognized the king, and a beautiful elf sat next to him with her hand on his, who had to have been the Queen. Aeraldor and Rowena were there. Beside them were a dryad and a faerie, the former with deep green leaves for hair …

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She found another stairway leading to the ground level of Belmaeron and followed it, excitement building inside her. Elves, as she remembered from the legends she knew, were known as the best archers on the other side of the Fangs. She wondered what she hoped to do without a bow, but it didn’t dampen her anticipation.

The clangs of steel on steel, the shouts of orders being given and received, and the hammering of what she guessed was a forge echoed in the distance. Amid …

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As they traveled on the fourth day, the trees seemed to become thicker, like massive pillars holding up a roof of leaves. Gnarled branches reached into the sky far over their heads. The sun dappled the soft forest floor with speckles of light, and the air was alive with birds and insects.

Around noon, the pungent aroma of blacksmiths, cooking fires, and other city smells wafted around them. Rain sensed they were nearing a city, but couldn’t see any sign of one yet.

“Halt.” From …

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“I can’t believe it,” Shea said.

The three of them stopped their horses before the gate that led to the Pass of Hearn, over the Fangs. It was clearly made to keep things out, as it didn’t even appear to have a lock or a way to open. It was one solid piece of steel, different than the gates at the front of the city.

And it was blasted open.

“How does someone just open a gate like this?” the lieutenant continued, walking his horse …

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It took them the better part of the next day to arrive at Highgate. The tall gates of the mountain pass city stood across a clearing. The city was beyond, and on the far side of the city was another pair of gates before the Pass of Hearn. They towered even higher, sealing the way through the pass. The Fangs of Grunae loomed above them, their jagged peaks stabbing the sky. Dark gray clouds rolled in from across the mountains, their edges stained the rusty …

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Outside it was cold and foggy, the morning light beginning to peek through the cloudy sky. When she saw Pan saddled and bridled, Rain hurried to his side and rubbed his nose, leaning in close to appreciate her old friend. When she saw the other two were already mounting their horses, she hurriedly strapped the saddlebags to Pan’s back and hopped on, following behind Whiskey. Shea brought up the rear. Rain pulled up her cloak’s hood as they went down the stone roads of Fairfield, …

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It was true that she was a little curious about the lieutenant. How did he know about craetons? Had he come from Willshire and seen the destruction, too? She headed for one of the two cushy armchairs in front of the fire and sat down with a long sigh. Her legs ached from the long ride on the saddle. The lieutenant sat in the chair next to her, rubbing his hands together in front of the flames. He looked at her again but she refused …

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“Mother! Father! Whiskey!” Rain yelled, finally able to move. People around her found their voices as well, and screams, yells, and loud talking filled the room. She rushed forward, scrambling around tables and chairs, and knelt down beside her mother and father. Their bodies were limp, and she put her ear to each of their chests. “Mother? Father?” She couldn’t feel their heartbeats.

“Mimsy,” Whiskey said quickly, “please escort the customers outside. Through the back door, please. Wait for me in the kitchen.” Mimsy nodded. …