Bleary-eyed, I dragged through the grass behind Andrin. I didn't think I'd ever get used to waking up exhausted. As an Animaré, sleep was always refreshing. I batted a particularly tall stalk aside and bit my lip, scowling. The hardy plant cut me.

"Doing alright back there Sedris?" Andrin glanced over his shoulder.

I merely shrugged, not caring to say more. The night before was still on my mind, both my dream and the conversation I overheard. I couldn't help but resent Koren's harsh judgement. His words bit into my heart like thorns, making it hard not to lash out at him and Andrin.

They didn't mean any harm. He was just being honest.

I sighed and looked up at the sky—or, tried to. The sun was blinding as it fought its way through the clouds. The two had fought all morning, one to cast the world in the shadow, the other in light. It seemed the brighter of the two was going to win out as the puffy clouds grew patchier. I smiled slightly. Sunny skies were better than dark ones.

"Whoa Sedris watch it!" Andrin's arm swung out to catch me as I nearly tumbled off a small boulder. "Daydreaming there eh?"

"Huh, must've been," I said absentmindedly. I carefully stepped around the side of the rock. These boulders were more like stone scales that started dotting the landscape as it became less of a flat expanse. For this we were thankful, since the rocks weren't difficult to weave between and provided some much needed cover if anyone was out looking for us.

Which they were.

"You know, for trekking through the wilderness with bloodthirsty Ska'al on our heels, it sure is beautiful out here!" Now Andrin was the one with his eyes on the sky. "We'll have this amulet to Aelridia in no time."

Koren scanned the landscape ahead of us and allowed himself a smile. "And hopefully we'll have some answers when we get there. I want to know why the Ska'al want it, and what they'll do to get it."

"Yes yes all that grim stuff too." Andrin rolled his eyes. "I'm just ready to..."

"... ready to?" I smirked as he lost his train of thought.

Andrin cocked his head to one side. "...to..." He frowned. "I don't like that."

"What is it?"

"I can't quite tell. Do you not hear that?" He looked from me to Koren. We shook our heads, each scanning the horizon worriedly.

My blood went cold.

A long, low note, barely perceptible, drifted lazily on the wind and settled on the rocks. I only caught it for a second, but that was enough. Koren had gone pale too. It was the Ska'al battle horn.

"Drop!" Koren hissed, pulling me down beside him. I fell like a sack of rocks, my heart pounding a mile a minute.

"Do you think they know we're here?" My voice shook.

Andrin held up a hand, cautiously peeking over the grass. He shook his head slightly. "I can't be sure. There's nothing on the horizon."

I risked taking a look as well, raising my head so I could just barely see the rocks in the distance. Nothing. No black dots in the distance, no figures parting the grass.

I wasn't reassured.

"That must be a warning." Koren's tone was grim.

"And a scare tactic," Andrin added. "They know we're here, they just haven't found us."

"So we make sure they don't." Koren's head never stopped swiveling. I lowered myself back into a crouch—I couldn't take the constant feeling of being watched.

"Sedris?" Andrin cocked an eyebrow at me.

I looked up, confused. "Yeah?"

"We need a scout."

My eyes flicked to Koren and back."Me?" I didn't know what else to say.

"Andrin." Koren sounded uncertain.

I shared his uncertainty. "It isn't how it used to be," I said quietly.

Andrin checked the horizon again. I wasn't sure he even knew which way to look, but he never lost his cool. "You're still the best we've got Sed."

"Andrin," Koren said again softly. He glanced at me. "He... Sedris, can you feel the currents?" His eyes locked with mine.

Heat rose up under my collar. I didn't want to let them down—especially not Andrin. "No."

Andrin wasn't fazed. "Sedris scouts." He looked at me hard as if trying to read my thoughts. With both their eyes on me I began fidgeting with the hem of my cloak.

I could feel the Animaré having a silent conversation while I stared at the ground. It couldn't have been more than a few seconds, but time was ticking by too fast. The Ska'al were on the move.

Koren finally gave in. "Alright, Sedris scouts." I raised my head, hopeful as well as afraid. I couldn't decide if I was ready to prove myself or angry that I had to. Koren pulled a dagger from his pack and held it out to me. "You throw this. You're attacked, you throw this, and you aim to kill." My fist closed around the dagger. "If you hear something, see something, smell something—whatever it is—turn around. Run first, ask questions later."

I didn't take kindly to his tone. "I know how to stay alive," I snapped back.

"Just be safe Sedris." Andrin's voice was softer.

Thanks for the concern.

I tucked the dagger away and spun on my heel, heading off into the grass alone. It wasn't the ideal way to leave them hanging but I was running low on patience. Koren knew I could take care of myself, yet he acted like I didn't know my own limits as a Solace.

Shaking my head, I tried to focus on the task at hand. They're relying on me.

The grass swished past my face, clawing at me from time to time. High noon melted into afternoon as the sun slowly began its journey toward the western horizon. After a while, the grass thinned out a bit, making it less tiresome to push it aside, but my back still began to ache after staying low for so long. I tried to keep up the pace, but still had to stop from time to time simply to stretch it out.

My assumption was that Andrin and Koren could track me through the currents, but since we had no opportunity to plan, I simply hoped they caught on. My inability to feel whether or not they were following put me on edge. It was possible that I had wandered too far ahead and lost them completely.

I popped my head up for my periodic scan of the terrain and instantly dropped back into the dirt, blood pumping hard. Not fifty yards ahead were two armored men standing unafraid on a large rocky outcrop.

The armor they wore was light but versatile. Metal plates protected the shoulders and chest while leather vambraces and greaves guarded the arms and legs. It could be standard field armor for any warrior, but the mask made the men instantly recognizable—Ska'al.

For a moment I had no idea what to do. One Ska'al, I could handle; I had done it before. Two was a different story. But turning back seemed dangerous, and I had an ominous feeling that they would spot me moving wherever I went unless I crawled a few hundred yards on my belly.

Maybe that's Plan B.

I never got a chance to think of Plan A. The rustle of the grass was my only warning that the Ska'al had left their lookout. They moved almost silently through the field. Almost.

Every hair stood on end as my ears strained for the faintest sounded of movement. I crept as silently as possible to a particularly thick clump of yellow grass, hoping it could shield me as the rustling grew closer. The grass was only waist high and had grown rather spotty, so all I could do was pray it was enough.

"...says so then we keep looking. We follow orders." Deep in discussion, the Ska'al passed ten feet from my hiding place while I held my breath, every muscle tensed to keep still.

"We follow orders," the other agreed. "I just want to know why we need it. Three men dead, and how many hounds?"

I smiled bitterly. We inflicted losses and they felt it. The discussion grew fainter as the Ska'al continued walking. Easing out from behind cover, I followed as silently as I could, hoping their voices would mask the slight sounds of my soft steps.

"Trust the prince. He works for the good of the people—as do we." The other seemed satisfied for a moment. I was losing them without any talk to mask my movements. If they heard me I was dead, being no match for two Ska'al at once.

"...think they'll be easy to catch?"

"The prince seems to think so." The grass parted easily, my thin figure sliding swiftly closer.

"But you?"

"I'm not so sure. If the Solace is truly innocent then the Animaré must be powerful." He didn't quite seem to finish his thought but didn't say more. I felt a pang. The Ska'al I spared must've brought back word about what happened—they knew my weakness.

"A Solace that doesn't kill," the other Ska'al scoffed. "Okril got what he deserved if he thought the prince would buy that."

Magic sparked to life in my soul. I concentrated on keeping it down—letting the anger take charge would end badly. It strained against me, responding and feeding off my own anger and shame.

Not all Solace are killers. It did little to reassure me but I knew I had to push the magic down. It couldn't interfere with my delicate operation.

Too late.

The Ska'al has stopped talking—in fact, they stopped walking altogether. Immediately I followed suit, but my heart sank into my stomach as I realized it may have been late. There was a good chance they heard me.

My heartbeat echoed in my ears and every hair stood on end as my muscles clenched, ready to fight or flee—I couldn't decide which. Doing my best to hold my breath, I inched away from the two men. My limbs ached as they held me in the lowest crouch I could manage. Each step backwards was agonizingly slow, even more so because I couldn't see or hear the hunters at all.

The slightest shift in the grass ahead of me and I froze. Not one muscle moved. The Ska'al was right in front of me. I waited.

Without a word the Ska'al rose and turned back to his companion. I didn't dare let out the breath I was holding. As the faint sound of the passing faded into the quiet grassland, I eased up into a crouch and quickly started back the way I had come, hoping I'd run into Andrin and Koren soon.

It wasn't long before I did.

"Are you alright Sed?" Andrin launched into questioning. "The currents went haywire around you for a while but we couldn't see exactly what happened. Was it the Ska'al? Did they see you?"

Overwhelmed by the sudden torrent of questions, I simply bent over for a moment to catch my breath. My back was killing me. "Two Ska'al," I panted. "They didn't see me... but they were close."

"Good. Anything else?" Koren's tone was brisk.

"Yes." I took another moment, trying hard to recover. "They definitely know we're here, and they're definitely looking for us. And also," I looked up at Andrin, "I'm not sure anyone but the leader knows why they want that amulet."

Koren's face darkened as if I confirmed his every suspicion. Andrin raised his eyebrows. "It must be truly sensitive if their troops don't have that information."

"All the reason to get to Aelridia faster. They can't chase us into there—the Ska'al would barely step foot in the city before being arrested on the spot." Koren set his jaw.

"We need to get moving then." I cast a wary glance around us before continuing. "Those Ska'al just appeared out of nowhere, I was lucky they didn't see me. If ten other patrols are out here, we need to move fast."

Koren nodded. "Agreed." He paused. "Is scouting more dangerous than helpful Sed?"

"Doesn't matter. Go, both of you," Andrin said suddenly. "I can't be sure if it's Ska'al, but something is behind us and moving this way. Koren?"

A nod of his head was Koren's response. He felt it too.

I didn't need to be told twice. I took off swiftly northwest, trusting the Animaré would see Ska'al in the currents before I did in the grass.

Unfortunately, the grass was growing patchy, fast. Only the rocks served for cover soon, and we ducked quickly from one to the next. My eyes constantly scanned the horizon, my breathing short and rapid. The Animaré both focused more on the currents than the rocks, trusting that I would lead them in the right direction.

Occasionally one of them would whisper a course correction to avoid another patrol, and I instantly followed orders. Somehow the crisscrossing patrols didn't pin us down all afternoon, even with the sparse cover.

It was only when the sun hung low on the horizon and the rocks cast towering shadows that things changed. After all, our luck couldn't hold out forever.

The flat plains had started to tumble and roll, gentle inclines turning steadily to steeper hills. The sky was tinged with pink turning to blood red when we stopped beneath a large stone outcrop. Two steep hills rose on either side of us, covered in shale and short, spiky trees. Before us lay a particularly flat stretch of terrain, the rocks lying in shattered pieces instead of large boulders. It was perhaps a mile across to more sufficient cover, and the width was probably twice that. If we were going to be spotted at all before night fell, this was it.

I crouched in the shadow of the rock, the Animaré right beside me. We all took a moment to steel our nerves.

"We should be safe on the other side of this field," Koren explained. "We're pretty nearly out of the Corvelen steppes, and we'll find more civilization not far beyond."

"But if any Ska'al come over those hills..." I bit my lip. It was risky. "Is it possible to wait till dark?"

Koren shook his head. "Well," he corrected himself, "it is, but it's just as dangerous. This outcrop isn't much cover either."

Andrin surveyed the grassy plains behind us and furrowed his brow. "They're out there. Looking for us." The stars were beginning to twinkle on that horizon, the darkness stretching skyward.

I sighed. No movement caught my eye in the rocky grassland, and although I was thankful no Ska'al were that close, I resented not being able to feel them. Tearing my gaze from the still night sky, I turned instead to the open expanse and the setting sun. "Ready guys?"

We had barely stepped out from under the outcrop when Koren yanked me back against the rock. My back hit the wall, hard.

"Ska'al!" He hissed.

I peeked around the outcrop and then flattened myself back against the rock. No need for the currents now—they were walking across the open ground right toward us. Even with the setting sun in my eyes I had no doubt the three silhouettes I glimpsed briefly were the enemy.

Koren held a finger to his lips and quietly slunk to the far side of the wall. We had a little hollowed section about twenty feet across with most of the rock hanging out over to form a roof. In other words, there would be nowhere to hide soon.

The crunch of boots announced the Ska'al's approach. I drew both my knives and felt the Animaré gather the currents around them. Running was no longer an option.

Magic coiled in my chest, anxious for blood. It screamed in every limb, urging me to rush forward. I pushed it back down angrily, only for it flare up ever higher. It wanted out.

The steps stopped right above us—the Ska'al had climbed our outcrop and paused at the top, surveying the land. Koren caught my eye and beckoned for his knife. I stretched toward him and relinquished the weapon.

His fist barely closed around the blade before he leapt.

Pushing off the wall, Koren made a huge leap from under the rock, twisting as he went, and sent the knife spinning toward the Ska'al on the rock. He landed on his back in the dust as we heard a grunt above us.

Koren swore as the other two Ska'al uttered a cry of surprise—he must've missed his target. They immediately jumped freely from the rock, one after the other.

As soon as they hit the ground, Andrin and I were on them. The first Ska'al barely landed before Andrin's broadsword raked his back. He screamed and contorted sideways, crumpling instantly. The second turned partially in anticipation of my attack. My knife glanced off his raised forearm, the metal vambrace protecting him from most of the damage. The magic tried to force its way to my fingertips but I grit my teeth and pushed it down—I couldn't let it control me.

Koren, recovered from his fall, swung viciously from the Ska'al's other side, but the warrior got his blade up in time. I felt a ripple in the currents as Naem-shul met Ska'al blade and Ska'al blade won by a mile. Koren was sent reeling back, shock written all over his face, and suddenly I remembered. He didn't know that the Ska'al blades absorbed the discharge from the Naem-shul. They drained an Animaré of magic as they fought.

"Koren!" I yelled, dancing away from the deadly black weapon. My warning was never finished.

Another grunt from behind indicated the arrival of the third, injured Ska'al. He landed heavily on the rocks behind me and I turned to face him, energy building in my soul, mounting ever more pressure in my chest. The Solace magic was hungry, but I didn't want to feed it. It could certainly help me, but I was afraid of the cost.

The warrior straightened up slowly. He was huge, nearly a foot taller than me or Koren, with a chest as broad as ours combined. In one hand he gripped a torch, which he immediately cast off to the side. The handle of Koren's knife stuck out of his thigh, buried up to the hilt, but he wrenched it free with a laugh, throwing it aside as well.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Andrin and Koren both occupied with the other Ska'al. His sword made their fight that much harder—they could barely use their Naem-shul at all, having to keep even those out of his reach. I set my jaw and swung at my Ska'al before I thought he could recover from the fall, but his arm came up lazily to block the swing. It was like hitting a stone statue. I saw his other arm swing a moment too late and could only twist away so my shoulder absorbed the punch instead of my chest.

Even so, the blow sent me flying. Somehow I held onto Lylisia's knife, the weapon my only hope while all else slipped quickly away. Even if I yielded to the magic raging inside me I wasn't sure it would be enough.

Rising warily to my feet, I blocked out the sound of the other battle. The huge Ska'al advanced, his mask leering at me in the hazy light. I feinted left and made a swipe right but he dodged nimbly aside, quicker than I thought possible. I dove away from his huge fist and popped up again to the side, only for his other punch to connect to my temple.

The world spun. I landed hard in the grass a ways away, my vision blurry and head ringing. The Ska'al laughed again. I made to push myself up, but the moment I raised my head the ground flipped vertical again and I collapsed. He hit me hard.

The Ska'al casually turned his attention to the other fight now, not seeming to care that his comrade was starting to lose his edge to the Animaré. But a second Ska'al would tip the scales, and suddenly I knew who would win this battle.

It wasn't the Animaré.

I hauled myself once again my feet, my head still reeling. The magic roared again in my chest as I let it strengthen my weak limbs just enough to get me off the ground, but no more. I wanted desperately to let it fuel me into a frenzy, but somehow I knew that wasn't an option.

You don't control me, I told the magic. You will never control me.