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CHAPTER ONE

KAZIMYRAH OF BRIGHTMIST

The ghosts are still here

The words lingered in the air, each one a shi spirit, cold whispers of caution, but I wasn’t afraid

I already knew

The ghosts, they never go away They call to you in unexpectedyou down paths that lead nowhere This way I had learned to mostly shut them out

We rode through Sentinel Valley, ruins of the Ancients looking down upon us My horse’s ears pricked, watchful, a rumble deep from his throat He knew too I rubbed his neck to calm him It had been six years since the Great Battle, but the scars were still visible—overturned wagons eaten up with grass, scattered bones dug froiant brezalots reaching skyward, birds perched on their elegant bleached cages

I felt the ghosts hovering, watching, wondering One of the to my lips, Shhh, Kazi, don’t say a word

Natiya led us deeper into the valley, unafraid Our gazes scanned the rugged cliffs and the cru consu of a fat hare by a patient snake Soon, all the destruction would be in the belly of the earth Who would remember?

Midway, as the valley narrowed, Natiya stopped and slipped fro a folded square of white cloth fro to the ground as silently as a bird Synové hesitated, watching est of us all, but her round hips remained firhosts, even in the brightness of a high sun They frequented her dreams too often I nodded to reassure her, and we both slid froreen rass She absently rubbed the fabric between her delicate brown fingers It was only for a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever Natiya was nineteen, only two years older than us, but she suddenly looked s we had only heard stories about Her head shook slightly, and she walked toward a scattered pile of rocks She began picking up the fallen stones and puzzling them back into place on the humble memorial

“Who was it?” I asked

Her lips rolled tight against her teeth “His name was Jeb His body was burned on a funeral pyre because that’s the Dalbretch way, but I buried his few belongings here”

Because that’s the vagabond way, I thought, but said nothing Natiya didn’t talk much about her life before she became Vendan and a Rahtan, but I didn’t talk s were better left in the past Wren and Synové shifted uncorass into small, flat circles Natiya wasn’t prone to sentimental displays, even if they were quiet ones like this, especially if they delayed her well-planned schedule But now she lingered, just like her words that had ushered us into the valley They are still here

“He was special?” I asked

She nodded “They all were But Jeb taught s that have helped s I have taught all of you Hopefully” Her scrutiny softened, and her thick black lashes cast a shadow beneath her dark eyes She studied the three of us as if she were a seasoned general and ere her ragtag soldiers In soest of the Rahtan, but ere Rahtan That uard We didn’t rise to these positions because ere bu and talents Natiya’s gaze rested on est I was lead on this ht decisions, but perfect ones Thateveryone safe too

“We’ll be fine,” I promised

“Fine,” Wren agreed, i a dark curl from her forehead She wanted to be on her way The anticipation earing on all of us

Synové anxiously twisted one of her long persiers “Perfectly fine We’re—”

“I know,” Natiya said, putting her hand up to stop Synové fro explanation “Fine Just remember, spend some time at the settlement first Hell’s Mouth comes after Only ask questions Gather information Get what supplies you need Keep a low profile until we get there”

Wren snorted A low profile was certainly one ofinto trouble was e