ed horizon. Lirael tightened her cloak around her shoulders, her gaze scanning the trail ahead. Kaelen,

he silence. "Thinking about the Veil? Or may

e getting to her. The air felt too thick, the mist too alive. And then there were

he admitted finally.

Besides the ghosts, the wraiths, and

aid sharply, ha

e soft whistle of the wind. Then, faintly, came the whispers. A chor

ghtened around his sword. "I d

, her voice grim.

the whispers grew louder. The path narrowed, and the mi

uddenly, his voice lo

ickering in the distance. It wasn't natural

e said, stepping

Lirael's ears with words she couldn't understand. Her hea

stone-a jagged arch carved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly. The glow came from

asked, his voice unch

el said, her breath ca

pers rose to a deafening roar. Lirael staggered back, shiel

smoke. Its eyes glowed with the same golden light as the

e Veil?" the figure intoned, its voice

ound her sword. "We seek the Veil to protec

ts gaze boring into her. "And

d, its form solidifying into something monstrous. Kaelen reacted instantly

n," Kaelen growled, his blade sparkin

cise. The creature was fast, its attacks unpredicta

eature reared back, its form split

acing. The whispers were louder than ever, clouding her

feel it. The runes on the arch pulsed in rhy

shouted to Kaelen, ru

m one of the shadow creatures. "I'll just fight the unkill

She reached out, her fingers brushing the co

l, one must prov

nd unrelenting. Her gaze snapped to t

. "We can't kill it-

ave melted ice. "Endure it? Great p

ng and dodging the creature's relentless attacks. Time seemed

ail and dissolved into smoke. The whispers

r chest heaving. Kaelen drop

e strained. "That was fun

ng to the arch. The runes had gone dark, but

loser," she said

"Closer to what?

re on the Veil and the growing sense