ngs and old superstition-a place where the sun struggled to break through the dense canopy

, it wa

han men. His slingshot hung from a loop on his belt, and in his hand was a small, carved

fingers were numb from the cold. He hadn't planned to come this far north, but someth

s were t

ched an

, golden-brown with wide ears and sh

l a

and bolted, but it didn't run in circles as usual. It darted

ed. He pushed aside the ivy-and f

round it felt... diff

Or worse. But hunger, and curiosity, pushe

before he forgot t

light breaking through a crack in the cave

gi

The

ess L

rn and bloodied. Her eyes were closed-her face pale. At first Kael th

ck, hand clutc

ng here? Why her

inside the cave. Kael froze. The sound of laug

only

ide, yanking the g

ed before she registered him, then blinked ra

hispered. "I'm g

No sword. Just a boy, dressed in rags, with dirt-s

t moment,

nd ankles. She winced as she tried to s

carr

e just

d you're heavie

d-but the voices

began the climb out. The passage was narrow, the incline steep. B

the voices

sh

cu

been di

to the forest, weaving through trees like a hunted stag. Arrows thunk

l the forest thinned, until

collapse beside a

round beside him. Her skin w

me," she

and nodded. "I thin

ce gates opened for th

barefoot and bloody, carry

intercept-then fr

d. Bells rang

t had r

n had bec

would never be