Thewyn leaned against a wall. Her boot left a smeared hollow in the mud, and her left rested against the building. If Dwayde hadn’t known better, he’d called her relaxed.

Water dripped in a contrary rhythm as Fastolph knelt at the Word Shield. His lantern’s flame echoed loudly in the silent chamber and did little against the cavern’s absolute darkness. Not that Fastolph noticed. Master Ephers words blazed in his mind.

Azadtril slapped her hand over her nose as she emerged into the dome’s center. A putrid stench assaulted as did the patchwork sky, lolling boulders, and drifting water enchanted within. She supposed the pink clouds lacking any sunset hue could have been considered picturesque, the illusion vanished then moment they touched the oak.

Falling. Lyse and Ellys tumbled banging against each other and well’s stone wall. The fire’s heat chased them, pricking her skin furious at its conduit’s theft. And unable to prevent it.

Lyse glanced right. Through the flames she saw homes burst into brilliant flames tearing them to the ground. “Glorious isn’t my word for it.”

Lyse stood on the edge of the cliff with Andes beside her. Her face twitched trying to restrain her horror. Before them the valley burned in boiling fire which burbled in oranges, yellows, and blues. Lyse saw it and couldn’t believe it.

Lyse stood on the edge of the cliff with Andes beside her. Her face twitched trying to restrain her horror. Before them the valley burned in boiling fire which burbled in oranges, yellows, and blues. Lyse saw it and couldn’t believe it.

The chime rang and Avital looked toward the front of the house unseen from the scant hallway visible. She closed her fingers around the slim stone she’d held to the light.

There had been many theories about how she had been murdered. Arwith’s least favorite was food poisoning.

Nothing but white. Lillie turned searching for anything in the humdrum continuance, vaguely disturbed by the thought that she might be dead.