The Glittering World

On the rim of the Cold Valley shine stars enough for two skies; one above and one below. The Breaker and the Mender reach out to one another across the clouds while a splay of constellations encircle their everlasting dance. But, the second set are no stars at all. They are the thousands upon uncountable thousand lights of a city so great it encompasses all the world Askon has ever known. Somewhere in that city is the woman from the visions, somewhere in that city is Alora.

They all know it now to be true. Finding her is a matter of only where, and when.

None knows it better than Elise, her mind filled with fading images of Thomas’s face, stricken and wild as they dragged him away. She will chew the shadow of herself down to nothing to find him. Each step, each overturned stone brings her closer to the final confrontation with the one who took him from her, the one who hurt him: Sehlín.

Elsewhere, the stars shine on, over Edward king of Vladvir, over John of Dalstone, over sable-gray falcon wings, and Dansil of Finnestre. When the sun rises, an army of Norill will gather, their mouths silent, their hands set singly upon the commands of a cruel master, whose eyes watch as daybreak washes over the Glittering World.