Autumn 1094 SR
The wind howled in from the west directly into their faces. Ludwig pulled his cloak closer trying to ward off the cold, but the breeze penetrated the fine material, chilling him to his very bones. Charlaine rode beside him, her breath frosting in the air.
“How far is this place?” she asked.
“Not much farther.”
“You said that some time ago.”
“I was wrong then,” he confessed.
“And now?”
“And now I’m hoping we’re close."
“We must have ridden nearly five miles,” she said.
“Closer to seven,” he corrected, “and that’s the distance to Eramon. It can’t have just vanished.”
“Are you sure? Perhaps there’s some strange magic to this place?”
He looked at her in surprise but soon saw the look of mischief on her face.
“Very funny,” he said.
“Tell me again why we’re going to t
