Book Four: AwakeningIT STARTED WITH A SOUND. Asleep in bed, Elena thrashed as the sound grew, a mounting pressure against the inside of her skull. Her eyes snapped open, unseeing, as an image of a face angular, pale and feminine filled her mind. The image screamed for mercy, voice pitching higher and higher. Hands curled claw-like Elena's breath came short and fast at the pain. With a muffled 'pop' the sound and sensations evaporated. Elena woke gasping for breath and lurched upright. Her chest convulsed as she choked on the sudden intake of air. The thin nightgown she wore stuck to her clammy skin with sweat running beneath the long plait down her back. Tears squeezed out while she fought against coughing as her head rang in pain with each harsh hack. Finally, she caught her breath and leaned back against the headboard with a shuddering sigh of relief. Across the room, the mirror on her dresser began to glow.'Ellie!' Verani's voice sounded hoarse.'Wait,' Elena called out in a

ACROSS THE DECK, TRYING TO take what heat she could from the sun Loi shaded her eyes and peered across at the sound of Kassie squealing. Rumal appeared to be teasing her friend who looked ridiculous in all the layers of clothing she wore. Seated beside her, Sabyn let out a tired sigh and opened his eyes, looking across too then back to Loi. 'How can she wear all that? She'll smother.'Loi smiled and reached out tucking her arm under his, folded across his stomach. 'She's Malay, even in full summer in New Zealand she'd be wearing more layers than us. I don't mind the cold at all, makes me think of Scotl--' The word died in her throat.'What?' Sabyn opened his eyes again a concerned frown rippling across his forehead, body stiffening beneath her hand. 'What's wrong?'She looked at him, a sense of shock and dismay running through her. 'I'm not Scottish- I've never been Scottish.' Just saying it, hearing her own voice, the burr to her tone the roll of the r's it sounded ridiculous to

'TWO! I CAN SEE TWO ships!'Lieutenant Patel looked up from the spread of maps across the table to see the Rodhite lookout officer galloping down from the cliff edge that hung over the shore meters below.'Are they ours?' he demanded, moving a paperweight on top of the maps before ducking out of the tent and walking toward the centaur.'They look right.' The officer offered an arm to Patel who seized it, swinging up onto the centaur's broad back. Around them the thickly spread cavalry all shifted positions, trying to get a better view. At the cliff edge the officer turned sideways. They stared out. The two ships appeared as if suspended on the horizon, perched at the edge of nothingness. Patel took the offered telescope and lifted it to his eye. It brought the ships into sharper perspective though not enough to state for sure either way.'Can you tell?' asked the officer.'Not yet,' Patel answered with a growl of impatience. 'Come on! Put up the sail!'The other soldiers gathered

'OFF ALREADY?' ALEK THOUGHT, CLIMBING the stairs to the hatch, ducking his head before coming out into the afternoon sunlight.'Yes. We thought we might see if we can reach the land.''Don't tire yourself out too much.'He felt her laughter at that and smiled, watching as the three griffons wheeled around the masts then swooped off, across the ocean. Turning, he paused at the sight of Leseach, not far from where Cat stood with Rashid and the other men. The Northerner wore an impassive expression but gripped the rail she leaned back against tight with both hands.Not in the manner of one nervous of heights but like one who fought against anger.Sprawled at her feet, its large eyes watching her, the ardwyr whined low and long, its whiskers vibrating. Leseach didn't appear to notice, eyes staring off into the distance.An unsettling sensation rose in his gut.Why did Leseach kill Ignatius, he suddenly thought; I'd assumed it was to protect me but I heard what she said to Cat and wh

KASSIE CHOKED MID-LAUGH, ALMOST inhaling the mouthful of seared fish she'd just taken. Coughing, she turned away from the table face flushing as she struggled to take a breath. When it cleared, she sat up, still red faced and laughed even harder as the two desert goblins continued acting out the moment between Rashid and Leseach in the caves, with reckless disregard for their own safety. Both Rashid and Leseach eyed the two with dour expressions. A fluttering at the edges of her mind caught her attention. She watched the moment in time via Cat's mind as she showed Alek, the whole thing so sharp it almost felt like her own memory. Cat knew she watched and winked at her from across the table. The two allies finished their dramatic interpretationa fair bit raunchier than the actual event, Kassie thought in amusement, artistic license muchwith everyone applauding heartily. During the pause between performances the chefs clanged on their pots again. Everyone stood with their plates in hand