The dew-covered grass chilled Rikia’s feet as she slipped to the ground, a chilling counterpoint to the hand still clasping her own. Catching herself she felt the hand slip away as she straightened herself in her family’s farmyard.

By blessing I’d presided over the crux of a thousand-year prophecy. By damnation I watch it crumble with a word.

Wind scrapped his skin as Rothsem surged down the mountainside. Wild laughter sprang from within muffling the cries behind for him to halt. Fools, he’d never halt! No, he’d passed the void bars, traversed the scalding divide, and scaled the frostbit walls. Now he rode the cascading mountainside to freedom. Nothing could hold him back!

Erard gasped beside me, flinging one hand tohis chest even as he leaned heavily on me with the other. Oh no, not again. “Did you hear that, Kater! Did you hear what she said?” His voice rang out with a jubilance I doubted the subject of his question didn’t hear.

My elbow thumped on the arm rest as I pinched my forehead between my fingers. Across the table Headmaster Dolphelm remained impassive with his fingers steepled and leaning back as if he hadn’t just me delivered a horrible blow.

Eryn chair’s creaking as she tipped back onto two legs. A grin spread across her face. “Exposed for the fraud I am, eh?”

He sat perched on the rock staring into the valley ignoring me. Petulant. And stubborn. Not that I was better. I’d followed him out here.

“There’s a desolate feel to the place.” Stacy’s pronouncement was accompanied by vague hand waving. I whirled to glare at Terrance. Not even one minute and she’d started in.

The day the ferries sank is marked by the dead, the desperate, and those awaiting damnation. I number among the awaiting.

The pen snicked loudly in the quiet room when laid on the highly polished table at the center of the hall. Gythe followed the movement, maintaining a neutral expression even as her heart thumped. The amnesty was signed. Relief eased the tension of standing interspersed with the Mothili soldiers.