Kaira looked anxiously around her. They had heard Shal scream and the seven of them were now riding hard in its direction. More than ever, Kaira wished she could talk to Giska and find out what was happening—what made Shal scream.

Beside her, Lance led the way, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. Alexander rode on her other side in the same position, worry on his handsome features. Kaira turned her eyes ahead again and leaned forward in the saddle as if she would help Birjanji get there faster. Above, the sun shone brightly and the snow was a luminous white. Normally, it would have been a beautiful, dazzling picture, but now it presented a distraction to her eyes. The gleaming burned into them and she wished she was wearing sunglasses.

They rode on, kicking up the snow in small...

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