I stood with an arm around my wife's shoulders as we waited at the city gates. The guard inspecting us stared between me and my wife. “He's not your son.”
Not again. “He is my son.” I stared at the guard not turning toward Tom behind. Perhaps if I willed hard enough this one would get a clue and not make a fuss. Tragically, he wasn't the brightest.

“Then it is done.” I leaned forward grasping a rope for balance as the words fell across the room. Heavy and light smothering noise. No more would the Virand impose their will. Our land would be ours again. Giles Bardolf would lead us.

Bendalia stopped in front of the uneven row of brightly painted boxes. Box 11 was only mostly closed. Not even enough to hide the presence of a letter shoved where none belonged. Scowling she glanced down the cross streets. If Diel and Kedilalia thought they’d joke at her expense . . . She harrumphed annoyed.

She snatched the letter from the box and ripped it open impatiently.

Elaweth, preeminent enchantress of Veth, had never bowed before Afanad hoard. She was a bulwark between her people’s light and their waves of chaos. A role she had been born too, but one she had accepted without hesitation. At least until today. Now she questioned. Late.

Wind. Fire. Water. Closing her eyes, Eowini let her chant wash through her splinter of the ephemeral entities she represented. Calm. Her breath slowed as she centered.

Hallstienn veered as hoodlums dived before him. He could take a hit, but not Cireg. He’d escaped with the Cireg and arrived home mostly unscathed, to have children harry him?

Ryann paused, her hand above one word among lines carved into the cavern’s wall. Every test marked it genuine, but it couldn’t be. Stepping back, she bumped against Marin.

Kyn stumbled up the turret’s last steps. She halted against the crenellations but Lanyth was a distant blur already. He was going back.

The glass rattled in the frame as it slammed. Never good. Worse when the house wasn’t your own. Turning, a man stood next to the window. I’d checked. The room’d been empty.