Chapter 1
Hannelore Mountain, Realm of Eldridge
Goldenlightfilteredthroughthe mist as darkness rose, creating deep swatches of shadow.Moving with slow steps, Daya let the tendrils of fog swirl around her as she wound her way through the velentha grove.
Tall, robust trees, they were a blend of gold veined green and purple leaves.A splice of her home realm of Eldridge and the bordering rainforests of Zamyra.The brown trunks shimmered with amber streaks as she got closer, indicating they were overflowing with the sticky wild sap she loved so much.
Being so far from any town, the velentha trees were left to nature.Untouched by people.The same could be said for most of the land that fell within Hannelore’s shadow.
After weeks of traveling, Daya had completed traversing the entire shadow of her mountain.She was exhausted, but the land had benefited from the magic she’d poured into it.
In particular, this western face of the mountain had been thirsty for connection, absorbing all the magic she could spare.The earth around her thrived with life, thanks to the extra time she’d spent.She tried to reach every area once each season, ensuring she was able to keep an eye on the land entrusted to her to care for and protect.
A seeking screech drew her attention skyward to the beat of wings.One of her two red-feathered hawks, Ember, circled tightly above her, signaling her attention.
Reaching out, Daya opened their connection.What did you find?
Injured male.Come.
The urgency in Ember’s tone had Daya immediately changing direction to follow the path of her winged companion.Weaving through the trees, she cut through the thick of the forest rather than find an easier game trail.
Deep into the crevice of a rock, she spotted a glint of gold amongst the darker browns and greens of the hillside, the western face of the mountain holding a distinctly Eldrin coloring.Edging closer, she saw the outline of a shoulder and arm jutting out from the rock.
Ember, that’s a person!
Of course.
I thought you meant an animal of some kind.
He is your kind.
Pressing her lips together to keep from entering a circular argument with the bird, Daya shook off her nerves and studied the blond-haired man crammed into the niche on the hillside.
He was angled in a sitting position, his body partially protected by the rock.The other half was visible at a close distance.Without his bright hair, the average hunter would have missed him.
Visually tracing his arm, she saw his fingers were curled around the hilt of a powerful sword.Hitching in a breath, she debated what to do.A capable warrior, he could be a threat.Still… he was on her mountain, so she couldn’t just leave him for dead.
Drawing near, she knelt beside him.His breathing sounded shallow and ragged, hinting at the deteriorating state of his health.She wanted to wake him, but touching him was out of the question, as he’d rouse to defend himself.
“What am I going to do with you?”she murmured.
“Wondering that myself.”His voice was barely a whisper.
Green eyes met hers, bright like an emeraldis plant after a storm.Deep lines of pain and exhaustion entrenched his face.The need to care for him pulled at her, and she raised her hand to touch his face before stopping herself.
“You’re badly hurt.What happened?”
“Hunted… attacked.”
By a beast of prey, perhaps?There was a wound on his chest, but it didn’t seem to be made by claws or teeth.She didn’t want to entertain the most likely cause.
“The nearest town is too far, but there is a village close by that I can take you to.They can help you.”
“No.”His gaze bored into hers with stark intensity.
“But—”
“No people.Too dangerous.”
