The Inquisitor laid his palm against the cracked Starstone. Its hum traveled through the floor and into the walls. Snow stopped in the air, each flake held above the crowd.
Silver light gathered above the dais into a three-dimensional memory large enough for the whole hall to see.
The Ancient Echo opened on the blizzard.
The ward split. Elara stumbled into a drift and cried out. Kaelen ran to her, lifted her, and carried her toward safety.
The Echo stayed with Elara after his shape faded into the storm.
She watched him go, then stood and put her full weight on the ankle she claimed was injured. She brushed snow from her white furs and smiled.
A carved bone whistle came out of her pocket. One piercing note crossed the ravine. In the memory, every rogue turned toward my position.
A mo
