"This place is cursed."
Captain Ryver scanned the desolate landscape before them. The Eastern Wastes stretched for miles. Cracked earth, dead trees, and an oppressive feeling that made breathing difficult.
"Not cursed. Corrupted." Amariel dismounted her horse to examine the ground. "Something has been draining life from this area for years. Decades maybe."
"Why would anyone bring Saphira here?" Elaria asked, following the trail left by whoever had taken her sister. The tracks were unnaturally clear. Deliberately easy to follow.
"Because they want you here," Draven said, his shadows flickering with agitation. "This whole setup screams trap. The convenient trail. The three-day deadline. The demand for a trade they know you won't make."
"So what's the real goal?" Valeria asked from her p
