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“Maybe I will once the rocks cool down.”

Esther spins around in a circle, arms outstretched like a human tornado.

Castor pinches the bridge of his nose then steps toward Esther. “You should probably stop before you get dizzy.”

Esther just laughs and then yells, “Sunfyre!”

Castor yelps and jumps back, casting a myst shield just in time as ropes of sunfyre whip from Esther’s hands. Wind picks up, and the rocks scatter in all directions.

“Well that’s one way to do it,” Leaf says.

Esther stops spinning and shuffles from side to side, attempting to find her balance.

Ramona shakes her head.

I rummage through the pack hanging on Heru to find the bundle of blankets. I toss them to Leaf, who immediately lays them down in a small pile in the clearing.

Taman’s massive wings twitch. We are going to hunt. The two rocs take off into the darkness.

Within minutes, our camp is set up, complete with a solaris shield around the perimeter. Taman and Heru return with wild game that Castor skins and cooks over the fire. Esther stacks rocks, and Leaf and Ramona are whispering back and forth.

Castor looks at me from over the fire. Shadows dance across his face the same way they did over a year ago. Like an echo of the past, we sit with a fire between us. Except this time, we aren’t traveling to the Watch. Our mission is much greater. There’s more at stake if we fail.

He hands me a stick with roasted meat. I take it eagerly, my stomach empty and angry. He gives Esther, Ramona, and Leaf the next pieces before finally starting to cook his own. Making sure to serve everyone before himself.

A son nothing like his father.

He catches me staring at him, as if he can hear my thoughts. He doesn’t wink like Leaf would, or make a sarcastic remark like Ramona. He just returns my stare, sharing in this moment that is simply now. Fleeting and stretching at the same time. There is something special about the unspoken understanding between two friends. The ability to see someone. Really see them.

“We should probably sleep for a few hours before dawn,” Ramona suggests.

“I’ll take watch,” Castor offers. He presses down on his knees to stand. Having traveled all night on Lux only to find himself on our mission was likely not in his initial plan. He must be exhausted.

I stand. “No, I’ll take watch. You should rest, Castor.”

“If anyone should rest, it’s you,” he returns. The undertone of “you are the only Starwatcher here” is apparent.

“He’s right,” Leaf adds.

Ramona gives a slight, grimacing smile.

Esther snores, already curled up in the blankets.

“Fine,” I say.

Castor nods and heads to the edge of our campsite, his silhouette joining Taman and Heru.

I curl up next to Esther. Ramona and Leaf join on the other side, their whispers indiscernible as the wind picks up. The stars watch from their perch, observing in silent twinkles. I focus on my breathing, trying to calm my mind, yet the moment my eyelids shut, I feel the pull.

The broken mountain, split by a waterfall. The jagged cliffs. The arch of stone. The stars are desperately trying to tell me something. Forcing their visions on me the moment my mind drifts open.

Just as the calming darkness of sleep overpowers the visions, the ground trembles. Heavy metal weapons clank, and dozens of boots strike the ground with force.

I whip off the blanket, knowing full well the difference between Atlys’s powers and this.

A red-tipped arrow whistles through the air until it pierces into Taman’s shoulder.

His cry splits the sky.