agged peaks. Lirael and Kaelen trudged forward, both weary from the night's ordeal. The memory

ing us?" Kaelen asked, hi

ze fixed on the uneven trail ahead. "The Veil isn't ju

A magical artifact with trus

the arch. A fleeting image of the Veil itself a swirling mass of golden threads, pulsating with imme

g her reverie. "You've gone qu

" she said, her

r," he quipped. "W

rd. Ahead, the trail widened into a small clearing, where a group of armored figures wai

his voice low. "Let me guess:

said, her j

a tall man with a scar running down

is tone carefully neutral. "What

n said smoothly, his stance casual

, lingering on Lirael. "We're on offic

rough," Lirael said, k

peaks isn't something most would attempt without a

unflinching. "We ca

n only by the faint whistle of the win

untains are not kind to trespassers or to thos

they moved past Lirael and Kaelen, thei

en let out a low whistle. "Charming fello

id grimly. "If they're here, it's bec

Which means Finn'

prince, trained in combat and strategy, and utterly devoted to his kingdom. He'd been r

he do when th

aking off her unease. "

ickening around them. The air felt heavier, charged w

creeps," Kaelen muttere

Lirael sa

s usual smirk absent. "Yo

t lingers, feeding off the land. The Veil is at the h

ment caught Lirael's eye. She drew he

it?" he w

s a woman, her dark hair tangled and her clothes torn. She was

l warned, stepping

ou shouldn't be here," she hissed. "It

Lirael asked, her

ng her temples. "The Veil. It's been sleepi

rt pounded.

arp. "A warning," she said. "For you and the

scrambled to her feet and vanished into

breath. "Well, that was

nd racing. The prince. Finn. Somehow,

ter," she said, turn

asked. "Because I'm starting to think th

t laced with urgency. "If the Veil really

beside her. "Fine. But when we'

growing sense that the Veil wasn't just a prize to be claimed. It was