moved into the forest, the

and the occasional distant bird-was now still, almost unnaturally so

n leaves and ancient roots. Her cloak caught on low branches as she push

e could feel his attention on everything. Every snap of a twig, every

It's not on any map. I've asked before. No one

"That's neve

the win

d the next, everything froze. The silenc

whisper slipping between

ara

The voice was soft but unmistakable, and i

s sword instinctive

was staring into the mi

e again, clea

... co

ng her slightly with his bod

ed. "It's the same v

," he said, voice low. "Not

east not completely. Something tugged at her chest, pulling her deeper

id, but she was alread

rushed past branches she couldn't see. The world grew quiet

t warning, the f

g stone walls and twisted ivy. Ancient ruins-silent and long forgotten-rose from the earth in arches and broken pil

g just above it, humming softly, was a crystal the size of her palm. It shimme

he fog behind her se

reathing hard. Then his

lace?" he asked, s

r voice distant. "But I've s

ystal

is time, the voice didn't come fro

d toward t

. "Wait. You don't kno

ing me," she said

ara

already step

edestal in a ring of soft silver energy. The ground shook beneath the

nding in the h

mewhere el

ing robes of stars and moonlight, her hair sil

me," the w

t pounded. "

oman said. "The last of the Moonkeepe

ey to

eady fading, her imag

the voice said. "Light or shadow.

verything

mbling backward a

her just bef

?" he asked, hol

destal, now quiet ag

ng. "She said I'm the key. And I have

soft. "That's not a choice

at his hand still

"But I think it's the

ain, and behind them, somet

d and stepped forward,

id, "we face it together. You

since the Moonstone sha