Prologue:

The Sight at Stone's Mouth

The day's sun began to sink over the western mountains by the time Nalya's scouts had returned to her. They'd been sent out and ordered to investigate a pillar of rising black smoke that marred the southern sky early in the day. Nalya's maps told her a small village that went by the name of Stone's Mouth had rested in a long valley that lay between the Aegel Mountain coast to the east, and the Senta Pass to the west. She'd remained optimistic that the column of smoke could be explained by a bonfire, or perhaps an accident. When one of her scouts came back, grim-faced, Nalya knew before he spoke that she was to be disappointed.

“Lady,” Teslan Nikol, her scout, greeted. He climbed from the back of his myrnah, a tall, sparsely feathered riding bird favored for its rapid speed and agility. Nikol knelt before her, ready to make his report.

Nalya swept a lock of blond hair from her face as she looked down at him with determined blue eyes. She bade him to stand. “Report,” she said.

Teslan nodded, then stood up. “We traveled several leagues south when we came across Stone's Mouth,” he said, “the village was in ruin. We have spoken with the Elder of the village, a man by the name of Akris Holm. He claims they were beset upon by Vectoran raiders early in the morning. They destroyed many of their crops, made off with much of their livestock and forcefully conscripted those young and strong enough to serve.” Teslan wore a grim look on his face. “They took their sons to act as slaves and their daughters to serve as whores for their men.”

Nalya's face turned graven. “You're sure of this?” she asked silently.

Teslan nodded. “The Elder claims it. From the state the village was in, there's no question of whether he speaks true. The only people there were children and elders. A small number of young men and women made it through unscathed, but many others were slaughtered. They still burn the bodies, even now.”