Large drops of rain started falling from the skies, and Lyris closed her eyes to summon her power. She could see Arnit’ essence, clearer than she ever had. He was close. Her stomach tightened with worry. Improvise, she’d said. Improvise she and Kit had agreed. But how? How was she going to get him away from Timmit? Whenever she thought about the young smith, she remembered him tall, strong and imposing.
As they raced away from the guard post, with shouts in the distance, the road twisted sharply to east and descended into a thicket of dark trees. Consumed with worry and trying to work out what she was going to do, Lyris didn’t notice the flash of colour to the side of the road. It was Kit who pulled his pony to a sudden stop and waved wildly at his friend. Lyris, noticing her companion w
