he horse beneath me shifted restlessly, her hooves crunching over brittle, frostbitten ground, but I didn't stop riding. Not fo

y and brittle above me, the color of bleached stone. No clouds, no breeze, no softness. The earth was crac

ittered the edges of hills-some the size of rabbits, others the size of men. The deeper I

ured to my horse, patting her flank gently. "Be

g back, but said nothing-

Not for her, really. Fo

evoid of life. Creatures watched us from the edges of rocks and ridges, just at the edge of sight-sh

s," I whispered. "Can

no warmth. Sweat dried on my skin in seconds. My lips were cracked. M

der

. I dismounted and walked beside her, one hand gripping th

ll find something soon. Maybe water.

dn't r

? If she did then I'd agree

me. My hands, numbed by cold, trembled as I pulled my cloak tighter. Above us, the moon rose heavy and low,

her. "You hear me? I didn't get b

pt walking, though slower

when I

de of a hill-wide

ough me like a ru

d. "Come on. Just

ack stone like broken teeth. But it was deep

let her rest. There was no firewood, no food, and n

st the wall, pulling my knees up to my chest. The s

," I murmured. "A stream, a v

soft, weary sound

fted shut, jus

nd wo

btle. Bu

t reach the back of the cave. Only sh

y

owing.

thout rhythm, without r

caught in

heart pounding

ered to the hor

ostrils flaring, her eyes

fingers fumbling with the knot.

tures di

e

nd led her backward,

't

urn you

t bl

h

adows

No sound. Ju

claws. Skinless things wearing bone masks, their bod

They were capable of bringing down even the strongest adversary by the might of their numbers. Learnin

ed with a pan

they lung