A wooded path weaved between the trees and hid in the grass like a playful child, but Yoreus never lost his way. After two days of journeying with merchants, pretending to be a low-ranking high mage, he’d left the caravan claiming to have relatives in the nearby village, but as soon as the last wagon disappeared into the green and yellow blankets of leaves, he ventured into the forest. There were easier and faster ways to his destination, but taking known routes would mean meeting people, and Yoreus couldn’t risk someone recognizing him.
The canopies shielded him from the sun’s blaze, but even in their shade, the journey took its toll on him. Every muscle complained about the strain and reminded him of how little he’d traveled in the recent years. Too afraid to miss anything important in
