else. The ring’s glow increased and decreased in harmony with the moonlight, fading when the moon disappeared behind a cloud, intensifying when it shined brightly again.

    Puzzled, she stared at the ring, then rubbed it, put it back on her toe, took it off, dipped it in the stream, buffed it with her tunic, and concentrated on things good and bad as she looked through it. Nothing seems to help, she thought. Except for glowing, it does nothing.

    Giving up, she put the ring back on her toe.

    She realized she must find a place to spend the night, and wanted to be in a tree. A healthy-looking oak was a short distance away. Summoning Faralan, she climbed aboard and spoke a few words. The giant bird flapped into the air and by...

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