s sharp and cold, carrying with it the faint metallic scent of an approaching storm. The Temple of the Ecl

s, the events of the trial churned in her mind. Voryn's words

city of Sahraketh, a place she had avoided during her journey to the temple. Its crumbled spires jutted ou

gh the air. Her exhaustion was mounting, but she knew there was no time

with shards of obsidian glass, fragments from the city's downfall or so the legends claimed. As

ing between the crumbled walls and shattered archways. At first, she thought the

into the open. It was humanoid but twisted, its flesh pale and stretched over angula

nants of mortals who had been caught in the divine cataclysm. Their bodies were corrupted by the

s. Kaelira remained perfectly still, her heart pounding in her

rough her satchel. The Ashborn froze, its head snapping toward her hidin

h. She bolted from her hiding spot, weaving

d through narrow passageways and vaulted over broken beams, her breath coming in short gasp

und herself at a dead end. A massive wall of collaps

hissed, her eyes darting arou

edges of her satchel. Kaelira yanked it out, its warm

wing louder as they advanced. Kaelira braced her

," she w

ming into the Ashborn. The creatures screeched as the light envelop

embling from the effort. The orb's glow dim

a voice said f

ruins. He was tall and lean, with dark hair that fell in unkempt waves around his fac

emanded, her voice sharp

here. Name's Malrik. I've been tracking those things for

lower her dagge

expression unreadable. "I can see that. Not every

his man was or what he wanted, but he di

about the gods?" s

st, I'd wager. Enough to know

tened. "If you're trying to intim

"I'm not here to fight. In fact, I thi

her eyes. "Help

d me? Let's just say I have a vested interest in keeping the Ashb

he didn't trust him, but she couldn't deny that having so

y. "But if you try anyt

air enough. So, wh

where storm clouds gathered in

ing serious. "Then we'd better move fast.