Stillness settled over the plain, the only sounds there of the insects and the gentle breeze in the grasses. Slowly Rees drifted into a half sleep. They would be moving soon, so he would not be completely asleep. Strange thoughts of Edina swirled in his mind. Antonin was there as well, in the floating dream, just standing off a little way watching. He was dressed in strange glittering blue robes. A gold band circled his brow. Rees could not understand why his ribs hurt. It was a slight pain only, but it kept coming back. From a great distance he could hear Luan. Luan! His eyes flicked open. Luan towered over him. Not so gently prodding him in the ribs with the toe of his boot. Luan saw that Rees was awake. "We go now. The clans are here." Was all he said, then turned away. The others were already packing their kit onto the horses. Rees looked out into the night. The deeper darkness of the plain resolved into what appeared to be many hundreds of warriors. All stranding quietly. No movement. Tessalan stood by Mei'An, who was talking in a hushed voice to him. There was a long way to go, and none knew the exact trail. Mei'An had a good idea of the location of the start of the main trail though. Some of it was still used by the Traders. Even the Traders did not venture in the depths of the forest though. The Tharsians did not trade, and would attack a Trader as quickly as anyone else.
The moon was rising. A gigantic silver disc on the horizon. A full moon. There would be plenty of light to travel by, and it helped to set the direction.
"We will head directly East Tessalan. In almost a week we should reach the boundaries of the Star Field Plain. We will be at the border of Tharhan. The king of Tharhan will be a little alarmed to find so many warriors streaming into his country. The border is well marked. You must all wait in the hills this side of the border. They are the Hills of Anan. Very distinct in shape. Smooth round hills collected together like bumps on a cold skin, short grasses covering them entirely. Go now Tessalan, and await us there. We will not be far behind you." Mei'An knew that so many warriors would trip over each other if forced to hold back to the pace of those with the horses. The warriors could run a steady pace for endless miles, outdistancing riders easily. Animals had to stop to eat and drink. A warrior only had to stop to snatch a little sleep. It might take Mei'An and her party over a week to reach the border, but the warriors would be there in but a few days. Then there was the distance across Tarhan. Mei'An was not sure, but she thought at least a month. The terrain was unknown, even to Luan. She hoped they could pick up the old trade route, once they passed the city of Tharkan. There were many small villages Mei'An knew. The country was fertile and well watered, the people mostly farmers. The king kept a small army. There were two Wind Readers at his court. There was also a strange mystic who kept the Tharsians out of Tharkan it had been said.
Tessalan walked over to a group of warriors, men and women both and spoke to them. In complete4 silence then one of that group began to trot out and around, in a wide circle to skirt the gathered warrior clans. One clan began moving to follow. Then another then another until finally all were moving eastwards in a wide path. Within what seemed only minutes, although it had taken some little time to get all moving, the warriors were nothing more than a dust cloud moving eastward. Soon they moved out of sight completely.
Mei'An's small group were now alone again. Mei'An swung up into her saddle, settling her divided skirt about her, she looked at the others.
"Shall we go?" She said quietly. "Or would you rather wait for sunrise?"
The spell of the moment was broken and the others were in their saddles in an instant. Luan led the way, the pack horses trailing on a long rope behind him. He set a rapid pace right from the start, half standing in the stirrups to ease the strain on the horse. Mei'An rode just back from him, then Rees and then Edina. The trackless vastness of the plain held no mystery for her. Edina knew exactly where she was. Her village lay to the south many miles. She wondered if she would ever see it again as she rode steadily eastward.
The distance rolled steadily by them as mile after mile was covered. Often they passed small villages, or clusters of farm houses. Dark and silent in the deep night, nothing stirred but the dogs announcing their passing. Near dawn, the moon now well down, the faint light showing on the far horizon as the party rode steadily toward it, Mei'An called a halt. The horses needed resting, and so did the riders. They had covered a lot of ground, but there was still a long way to go. They were now well out of the usual range covered by Edina and Rees. Neither had ever been this far directly East and North of their village. Edina's usual patrols took her West, and Rees had never had reason to travel this way at all. The horses stood puffing and blowing steam in the chilly grey morning. It was some time yet to sunup, and the riders tendered to their horses. Wiping them down with a handful of grass, then giving them water. A handful of oats to keep them going. Rees thought it might be a good idea to stop in the next village. They could rest and eat, and give the horses proper feed and rest. Edina agreed. While Mei'An would have been happy to push on, she none the less agreed. She was interested now to see where Rees's decisions took them. As the sky lightened they could see a road some way off to the north. It appeared to be well used and wide. It went east and west. Rees went to investigate but could not guess where it went. Neither he nor Edina had ever seen it. Wagon trails, trails from shod horses, and the occasional foot print showed in the dust.
"Come," said Rees. "This will be easier going for us all. Rees waved his arm to call his friends over to the road.
"This will be a part of the old trade route." Said Mei'An. "I know of no other roads in Da' Altai. Except of course the Great North Road, and that was always a trade route."
They now continued eastward on the dusty road, the sun easing above the horizon directly ahead. It seemed to be rising out of the very road itself. Everyone rode with their hands shading their eyes. Rees wound a long strip of cloth, packing from the chest, around his head and pulled one edge down over his eyes to shade them.
Finally he halted, and called to the others.
"This is no good Mei'An. We must wait until the sun clears the horizon. I'll be blind if we keep this up."
No one argued. Dismounting in the road, they all stood with their backs more or less toward the rising sun. The horses were steaming in the gathering warmth and the low grasses and small bushes steamed as though afire as the sun evaporated the nights dew and the world welcomed the new day. It was a breathtaking sight, and Rees and Edina never tired of it, even though born to it. They thought they were the luckiest people alive to live in such a beautiful land.
With the sun now half an hour above the horizon they resumed their journey. The landscape began to show signs of change. No longer quite so flat. The road clearly showed undulations in the surface of the plain. Not hills really, but dips and rises spread over many miles like a long swell in a vast ocean. Some way ahead, at the crest of the next rise, a village straddled the road.
Smoke was rising from chimneys of some of the dwellings. It didn't appear to be a large village, but even at some distance Rees could see a couple of wagons in the road, outside a low building that was larger and more solidly built than the others.
"A tavern." He said to no one in particular and pointed. There didn't seem to be many people moving about. It was still early, but there were usually people in any village with tasks that had them up and about early.
Luan eased his sword in its scabbard. His unconscious action alerted Mei'An and Rees. He looked at Edina and saw that she had unslung her bow and nocked an arrow already. Rees eased his sword on his belt, and made sure his axe was in easy reach. They approached the village at a steady walk, and rode into the heart past shuttered shops, and closed up outlying houses. There were a number of children in the yards. Chopping wood, gathering eggs, opening barns and stables. No adults in sight yet though. No girls amongst the children either. Luan, in the lead, reigned his horse. A solid wall of men had come out from between the buildings lining the street. They were armed with the implements of farmers and village folk. Pitch forks, hoes, axes. They were silent and obviously a little afraid, but all stood firm.
"You would greet travellers, and visitors to your village thus?" Grated Luan. His eyes searching for the one who would make the first move. No one replied. Mei'An rode up alongside Luan, and surveyed the crowd calmly. She pointed to one man near the middle of the group.
"You are the leader of this village." It was not a question, it was a statement. "Would you raise arms against a Wind Reader?" She continued after a pause. "… and her Guard Companion." Her eyes flicked to Luan and back.
The man she had singled out was startled to find himself with an ever widening gap around himself, as his companions moved away from him in a reflex action. He quickly regained his composure though and stepped forward, a long handled axe held casually in his hands. Luan stepped his horse forward to a position just in front of Mei'An. "Hold there. Not another step." Said Luan. The villager stopped dead in his tracks. He swallowed, his Adams apple bobbing up and down. Something was putting rods of iron in the spines of normally placid village men. Mei'An could see it. So could Luan and the others. These men might be villagers and farmers, but they were all solid from years of toil, and in this mood very dangerous.
"Luan." Said Mei'An, "I will talk with this man."
The look on Luan's normally rock like face told eloquently what he thought of that idea. None the less, he backed his horse out of the way, and swung out of the saddle. He was dismounted and had his sword in hand before the village leader knew what had happened. Mei'An slowly dismounted, and walked to a point just out of reach of the villager.
"You can put down your axe village man. I wish to talk only." Mei'An waited a moment, but the villager just watched her and continued to heft the axe in his hands. Suddenly he let out a yell and dropped the axe, the flat of the head striking his right foot. The handle was smoking slightly. The man was flapping his hands and hopping, trying to ease his sore foot. "You've broken my toes! Oh, my hands are burnt." He cried. He hopped to a water trough and plunged his hands in. Some of his friends were grinning at his discomfit. None moved to help him. Mei'An waited. The man settled down and hobbled back to face Mei'An.
"What has frightened this village so badly that you would face strangers armed, and one of them a Wind Reader?" She asked him. The man looked at his friends gathered a little way back for support.
"In the night, thousands of warriors ran by us here. We lost a few goats and chickens, but that's no mind. Shortly after they went by, we heard strange cries in the night. It took some hours for all the warriors to pass by there were so many. But the cries belonged to Dahars, the creatures that fly from Sara Sara. Two of our women, the wife of Edmus here," he pointed out a young man in the group. "And the daughter of Istar there." Pointing to a man who had to be the village blacksmith, so was he dressed. The man swallowed then continued. "The Dahar were in the street where you stand now. They had the women. We rushed to help them but the Dahar simply ... broke the women like twigs, and flew off with them." The village spokesman had glistening eyes. The hair on Mei'An's skin was prickling. Dahar. It could not be. Those creatures were evil personified, and truly servants of the Dark Lord. Only six had ever been created by the sorcerers of the Dark Lord. The inner circle of ten, all thought to be imprisoned in the Great Wheel, along with the Lord of Lies himself. It would seem that the Dahar had not been imprisoned or killed all that time ago.
The Dahar had been created out of nightmares. Huge beasts, standing upright like men, vaguely man shaped but grotesque in countenance and form. Skin so black that the eye could not focus on it. Huge wings like those of bats, with talons for hands at the tips. Glinting hooks at the joints that they used both to grip and to rend. They had been created for one purpose only. To destroy the ancient King of the Malachites and his family. In this they had failed though. The great battle of that age ending before they had been unleashed. The circle of ten had been captured and imprisoned. The Dahar had not been seen since, appearing only in legend and kept alive in memory by the tales of the Traders. It seemed that they had returned. No story could describe the true nature of these beasts, nor their reality. There would be little doubt that the women were dead. Mei'An knew of the creatures. More than ordinary people. The touch of a Dahar meant death. They grasped their victims by enfolding them in their massive wings and the victims heart stopped. Man or beast, the Dahar killed whatever was touched. They would then fly off with the persons crushed body grasped in their talons. Later, wherever the Dahar had made their roosts, the bodies would be devoured. The village was lucky it had only lost the two women.
"I can understand your fears," said Mei'An. "But we at least mean you no harm."
"How are we to know that?" Cried a voice from the crowd. Another yelled. "Thousands of warriors. Dahar from our nightmares, and now a Wind Reader and her companions all armed to the teeth."
"What terror do you bring?" Cried another.
The men were all scowling. Feet shuffling, inching forward. Edina and Rees were still on their horses, and a little way back. The low murmur of voices from the crowd sounded ominous. The village leader was still out in front, alternating between inspecting his burnt hands and his aching foot. In truth, his hands were not burnt. Mei'An had only caused an instants heat to flow though the one, and the wood to smoke. Surprise and wounded pride had hurt the man more than anything. Luan still watched him warily.
"Listen to me. For I speak the truth as you well know." Said Mei'An, her voice quiet, yet carrying to the furtherest ear. "We journey to the East to bring back the Lord of the Dragon Armies. He has returned to this age. The battles with the Dark One loom again. You have seen the terror of the Host of Darkness. The Dahar must be found and destroyed for all time. They seek the King, the Dragon Lord himself, as surely as we do." The gathering of men were now unsure of themselves. This was the truth. They could see it. The shock of recent events could not be shrugged off though. One of the young men stepped forward. Luan tensed. "How would you destroy the Dahar, Wind Reader? They cannot be destroyed." Another stepped forward. "Why have they appeared here, in our village, if the King is to the East?"
Rees sidled his horse around to get a better view of the crowd. Both he and Edina had been watching for signs of stealth. There were faces at windows here and there, quickly withdrawn when seen. No signs that there were others waiting to attack.
"The Dahar it seems may be moving with us. We know where to go, and they can probably sense our companion here." Mei'An pointed to Rees. "The warriors who passed in the night are with us. They will cut a way through the Gloom. The forests of the Tharsians."
The men in the crowd were now turning to one another and talking openly. The threat was gone. There was much to take in. Only the two men who had lost their family stood silent. Both were watching Mei'An. She signalled Luan to her, and called Rees and Edina over.
"This is very bad. The Dahar can only be destroyed by the power of the Seal of the Creator. So we believe. No one knows for sure. We do know however that no mortal man can get close enough to destroy them. Arrows and spears have no effect, and swords put the wielder in reach of the wings. Weapons bounce off their hide, which is like armour. None of the powers of the Wind Readers even cause them to blink. Anything we direct at them simply vanishes. So it has been told."
"Then," said Rees. "One of us must return to Xu Gui and bring Anan Hamar with the Seal."
"No, this cannot be done. We must not separate now." Said Mei'An.
Unnoticed except by Luan, the two men who had lost their wife and daughter had moved close by.
"We will go. Tell us what to do that we may avenge our loved ones." Said the youngest of the two.
"If I could find them, I would face them alone. My daughter was my life."
The man's eyes were distant, as though all hope had been taken from him.
He focused on Mei'An. "Where is this village you speak of. We will take the best horses and ride on the wind. We will go now." The man looked at his companion, who nodded once in agreement. Luan gestured to the village head man.
"Quickly man. A string of your best horses, water bottles and dried food. These men ride now!" He emphasised the word 'now'.
Suddenly, with a focus for action, everyone moved. Men were running off to fetch horses, some disappearing into buildings to fetch suitable food, others running to the well to fill goat skins with water. Mei'An quickly wrote out a message on parchment from here saddle bag. She sealed it and gave it to the eldest of the two.
"Go to the Inn of the Dog and Girl. Give this to the Trader. He will return with you we hope. You will ride west by south from here. Keep the sun on your right shoulder. It will take you two or three days to cover the distance. Do not ride at night, or if you do be extra vigilant. Do not light fires. Take turns sleeping, and keep watch at all times even when riding. You will almost certainly be followed."
The younger man replied. "We will not sleep. We will return within seven days for we know how to navigate by the stars and maintain our course. No more must be taken as my wife, my Laurina was taken."
"Go then, and guard that letter with your life. Without that, you will never convince the Trader to return with you."
The older man, Salasha by name, raised an eyebrow. Mei'An saw and said to him. "The Trader has the Seal. Only he may hold it - touch it. Go now. Safe journey. We will protect the village while you journey."
By now a string of fifteen horses had been gathered in the street. Two were saddled with light racing saddles. Little more than strips of leather across the horses backs, with stirrups attached. The men would not need comfort, nor working saddles. Meagre supplies were strapped to the back of some of the spare horses. Not much on each. The horses had to be kept as fresh as possible. Without preamble the two swung into the saddles and were at full gallop before they reached the edge of the village common. The roar of encouragement from their fellow villagers rattling the window panes. The men disappeared into the rolling plains in a cloud of dust. Those left behind now wondering what to do.
"Luan, you must ride ahead to the Hills of Annal, in Tharkan if needs be.... No, wait ..." Mei'An's voice trailed off. Suddenly she looked directly at Edina.
"There are those with the Maidens who can read the wind." There was some surprise in Mei'An's voice.
Edina's face was all innocence. "I do not know of such things my lady." She said quietly.
"No matter." Replied Mei'An. "It saves Luan a hard journey. There will be a Sept of Maidens here before the two men return from the village with the Trader. Two days at most. No Edina - the Broken Mountain sept."
Edina closed her mouth. She had hoped for her own sept, the Stone Lions.
"Why maidens, not the men?" Asked Rees thoughtfully.
Mei'An looked at Rees, then Edina. "Although Dahar are made to kill, their only purpose the destruction of the royal line, when they eat, they prefer only the female of the species. The warrior maidens will draw them."
Some of the men standing by looked a little pale at this news. Soon the street was empty of men. All over the village, the sounds of boards being nailed over windows and doors could be heard. Children were ushered inside, barns and outbuildings emptied of live stock and people. Homes sealed. Soon, a trickle of men began to gather outside the inn in the middle of town.
Meanwhile, Edina, Rees, Mei'An and Luan had also made their way to the inn. It was cool and quiet inside, and the woman in charge was all smiles, although it was a smile of habit because her eyes reflected her sorrow and concern at the recent events. Her white apron was spotless, stretched across her ample bosom and wrapped around her considerable girth. Inn keepers tended to portliness as even Rees and Edina knew, but this woman was in a class of her own. Her chest expanded forward like the bluff prow of a merchant ship, the white apron like foam over the bow wave of her ample waist. She was majestic thought Rees. It was the only way Rees could describe her. Her smiling round face was open and friendly, and she was taller than the usual plains people and this height gave her the correct proportions. Luan eyed her appreciatively. The wooden spoon in her hand was obviously to keep the serving girls in line. The smells coming from the kitchen area were making everyone realize how hungry they were. The only others in the common room were three merchants sitting in a booth, deep in conversation. Mei'An knew they were discussing the falling price of wool, and the rising cost of transport. The men gathered in the street outside began to crowd into the inn. They were at a loss now. There was really nothing to do but wait. These were the men with no families to guard. All carried axes, some even had swords that looked like they had been hastily retrieved from barns and stables where they had lain, long abandoned. They sat and nursed unaccustomed ales. Rarely would such men be in the inn during daylight hours. They were farmers.
Edina couldn't hold herself in any longer. Her voice on the edge of outrage, her eyes blazing, she confronted Mei'An. "You would use my sisters to draw the Dahar to us. I see your plan Wind Reader. you must stop this. I will not allow you to use us so." Edina was now on her feet, fists clenched by her side. Suddenly the innkeeper was there beside her. One large arm around the girls shoulder.
"Be peaceful girl," said the innkeeper in a quiet soothing voice. "I'm sure your friend knows what she is doing. Why, I will lead your sisters myself. Let those filthy Dahar try and take me and they will wish the Dark One had never agreed to their creation." She drew herself up straight as a rod, taking a deep breath as she did so. Even Edina had to admit she was impressed. The innkeeper was ... magnificent. Not a man in the room was looking elsewhere. Even the merchants had stopped their murmur. Edina had to smile, all the outrage died.
"We are warriors Mei'An. The Dahar will not take a single one of us." Edina smiled at the innkeeper. She still saved a fleeting frown for Mei'An.
"What is your name, if I may ask?" Edina asked the innkeeper.
"My name is Vlakere No Allenrood young mistress, and what is yours?" Replied the innkeeper.
"Edina, of the Stone Lion sept. Mare Altan." She replied.
"Ahh," breathed the lady innkeeper. "The Mare Altan. Yes, I have heard of you. Truly you are welcome under my roof. I too am from the warriors. Our people came from an ice bound land far away. I myself ended up here running this inn. There are others who live in this village as well. One day I will tell you how we came to be here. Maybe."
With a smile lighting up her whole face she added. "Woe unto anyone who thinks I am no longer a warrior. I run a good inn here, and take no nonsense."
While she had been speaking she had taken a long handled axe down from above the fireplace. Rees looked on in interest. He had never seen an axe like this one.
The shaft was very long, almost from floor to armpit. The head was a huge half moon blade with a wicked spike on the rear edge. The whole thing looked to be very heavy, but one swing with that would cut a man in half in a blink. The innkeeper was twirling it about with ease. It seemed as though it was a feather in her hands. The men watched in appreciation. Luan with obvious interest. Edina with a look of wonder on her face. "Mistress Valkeri," She said. "Should those Dahar come upon us again, I would count it an honour if you would join me in defeating them, for surely we shall." Edina's face was alight, and the innkeeper was beaming. With an effortless flick of her wrist she sent the shining silver axe spinning toward the front door. The 'thunk', as it buried itself into the solid door frame shook the building. A rough looking wagon master just stepping through the door let out a loud yell as he stared at the wicked looking axe buried in the door frame only inches from his head. He swallowed, and stepped into the common room. His companions were laughing at his discomfit, as he was gratefully accepting a huge tankard of ale from the hands of the innkeeper herself.
Mei'An suddenly sat up straighter in her seat.
"Luan - have a care." She whispered. Luan heard. He was meant to hear. His sword appeared in his hand in an instant. His gaze sweeping the room. He glanced at Mei'An.
"I have the measure of Cinnabar now. He is close by."
Luan's lips compressed into a thin line. His eyes glittered in the lamp light as he searched the room. Although the day was bright and cool outside, the common room, as in all inns, was almost in darkness. Small windows, thick walls and deeply recessed doors meant the room stayed warm in winter and cool in summer.
There was no sign of Cinnabar after a few minutes, and Luan relaxed slightly. Only Rees had noticed his sudden tension, and the drawn sword. Edina was deep in conversation with Valkeri the innkeeper.
Mei'An had not relaxed though. She could still sense the Morgoth warriors gateway. Perhaps it had not yet formed, but it was somewhere very close.
Mei'An was looking about the room, concentrating, looking for subtle changes.
'There it is.' She thought. The dust motes that swirl in the weak sunlight coming through a high window were streaming around a seemingly solid mass of air by the far wall. Without hesitation she raised her right hand, palm out, and a bar of pure white light flared out toward the area where the dust motes swirled.
The surprise of the flare of light, and the animal roar that filled the room had everyone on their feet. The roar was filled with pain as well as surprise, but it was cut off as though sliced by a knife. Mei'An smiled faintly. The solidified block of air was gone, and the sense of Cinnabar's presence was gone also.
'So, He had been eavesdropping through a half opened gateway.' Muttered Mei'An. The others looked at her. "Cinnabar won't bother us again for a time I think. I suspect he will be nursing burnt fingers and ringing ears." Mei'An chuckled.
The innkeeper stood quietly for a moment, watching Mei'An, deeply thoughtful. Without a word she turned and left the room. Edina shrugged and came to sit with Rees and Mei'An. Luan prowled around the common room like a caged cat.
Mei'An pondered the information about the Dahar. This was a serious development. They must continue their journey, yet they could not. If the Dahar were moving along the trail with them, then they could go no further. Cinnabar was bad enough, but the Dahar had to be dealt with immediately. The worry was that the Dahar were on their trail at all, but had just happened upon this unfortunate place by chance, as they themselves had.
If they were here by design, then it was Rees who had drawn them. They would come to him like lodestone, unless they already had the sense of Antonin. The coming night would tell them. Dahar did not go abroad in daylight. If they returned this coming night, then Mei'An could be assured that Antonin was not yet their target.
Edina was watching Mei'An from the corner of her eye. Did Mei'An realize how close to true Wind Readers some of the Maidens really were? Edina personally doubted it, but she would have to show great care in future. She had nearly been caught with her guard down completely. She would certainly be cast out of the society of maidens if she let this secret be discovered.
Rees wanted to be up and moving. All this sitting about was frustrating. That the sudden inactivity was weighing on the others in the common room was evident as well. Men were muttering and looking sideways at others. Rees was no leader of men, and knew it well, but something had to be done.
Rees stood, and banged the table with a large pewter jug that was in the middle. Everyone looked around in surprise.
"Do we sit and wait like lambs, or do we prepare to take this foe on, on our own terms?" He called to those gathered. Instantly the other men were on their feet. A general cheer went up. Rees started for the door, and a scraping of chairs and the banging down of mugs told him the others were following.
The huge axe of the innkeeper was still buried in the door frame at head height. Rees passed it by and went out into the bright sun light of the street. Soon the crowd from the common room were gathered around him. He stepped back up onto the front steps of the inn. He noticed Mei'An watching from the dark recesses of the doorway.
"We know," began Rees. "That these monstrous beings will only travel at night. Although they fly, we also know that they need to walk to gather up their prey. We can use this."
Rees paused. He was making this up as he went along, but it seemed as though the thoughts of another were inside his head. It felt very strange. Still, he could not stop now.
"We will use this to trap them. I have heard ..." He paused in mid sentence. "That ground traps can slow them enough to distract them." Rees rubbed his forehead. 'Where had I heard that?' He thought. 'I have never even heard of Dahar until today?'
He shook his head.
"I also know that we can catch them in nets that entangle their wings." Again he rubbed his forehead. Where were these thoughts coming from. Mei'An's face was unreadable when he glanced at her.
By now men were discussing ways of laying traps, and how to place nets.
'The Dahar are in for a surprise when they returned here.' Thought Rees. 'If they returned.'
Mei'An returned to the cool of the common room and took her seat. Edina had disappeared. So had the axe from the door frame. In reply to Mei'An's questioning look, Luan lifted his chin in the direction of the private rooms to the rear of the inn. Edina was talking with the innkeeper, that strange woman claiming to be a warrior. From a land Luan knew to be on the far side of the world. Almost a year away over an endless ocean, far to the north in the frozen wastes.