Chapter 31: Absorption Vance After the display with the prisoner, Vance had been offered a room in the palace. He took it, knowing his...

Chapter 30: Pioneer Astrophel By the end of the first day of travel, Seri, Dionne and Astrophel raced away from the curve of the river...

“What is your name, water caller?” the red queen asks, leaning back in the throne, fingertips tapping against her mouth...

When Astrophel got back to the boats, Iska was waiting for him, snuffling through his stuff and dripping water over everything...

If he thought the buildings in Kildangan were tall, the walls of Seyune were something else entirely. Over the tops of the trees...

The sun is already overhead by the time the crashing of the waves seeps through the dark space of unconsciousness to rouse Astrophel...

The cart bobbed along for the full first day, unbothered by the condition of the road they traveled. The second day, however...

Chapter 24: Intrigue Astrophel Astrophel and the others get back to the ships and signal for everyone to unload their cargo; there’s...

Vance hangs back as Astrophel and his friends file back down the road toward the ships to catch the others up on what they’ve discovered...

The next few days pass in a blurr. There are enough volunteers to fill three forty-oar longships - provided by Yerevan - by the time...

Astrophel wakes to a hand shaking him. Squinting open his sleep crusted eyes, the night sky blushes with the very first rays of dawn...

As the new Five, Astrophel and his friends take their seats upon the thrones for their respective tribes as the crowd continues cheering...

The days between Valskog and Caladija pass uneventfully, though Astrophel keeps returning to the image of Sulien’s haunted expression...

Midnight hangs over the temple at Falun like a secret holding its breath. The dark night sky embedded with jewel-like stars is reflected...

Ryju skips across the waves like a pebble tossed with the strength of one’s fury, causing Dionne’s wet hair to slap across her shoulders...

Chapter 16: Cunctari Astrophel Morning comes with the slow-waking realization of comfort taken from being in another’s arms. His first...

“You’re not going alone, Ast,” Dionne’s voice is firm. Astrophel sighs, familiar with the argument since he and Dionne headed for...

The water holds him. Suspends him. It’s all around - above, below, left, right. It works its way through his veins…

The next morning Astrophel returns to his house with breakfast in his arms. His clan pools their resources, some bringing in fresh...

The hues of dawn streak pink and orange across the canvas while the rising sunlight shimmers over the tops of Flykar’s great white wings...