Rhyode led them away from the main road north and back towards the river. Zhira wondered if they were still in the same forest where they’d started out. If so, it was immense. She
couldn’t remember ever seeing a forest so large on a map of Arngeir. When they reached the glittering, rushing water, Embry turned and began picking out a path along it, weaving around weeping willows that hung over the edge. Their leaves were turning brown under a thin layer of ice that whispered as they moved in the wind.
The sun rose slowly in front of the horses, slanting through the trees and burning away the morning mist. As their route levelled out Zhira relaxed. Her back ached from the effort of staying on the mare and the muscles of her thighs were taut and sore. Battling exhaustion, Zhira was close t
