When Asher finally called them back to the cliff, Wade and Aurum were completely drenched. As they flew back, Wade spotted his father standing beside Asher, his head tilted back to see them.

Aurum landed with a flurry of wind and water, sending a shower of salty rain across the dry stone. Wade slid off the dragon's back and landed in a wet heap on the ground, shivering. If the sun hadn't emerged from the clouds to warm his skin, he was sure he'd have frozen over then and there.

"You both looked like you were having fun."

Wade looked up at his father and grinned. "We were. The ocean is amazing." He wearily pushed himself upright and raked his hands through his hair, trying to dry it out a little. "Flying . . . less so."

"I can imagine." Wade's father grasped his hand and pulled him up. He frowned and looked Wade up and down. "You're shaking."

"Just cold."

"That can be dangerous in this weather, son."

"It's not that bad; I wasn't in the water that long. I'll be fine once we get moving."

Asher looked at Wade. "Are you sure? I can use magic to—"

Wade waved his question away. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. If I need help, I'll tell you."

His father nodded reluctantly. "In that case, go ahead and check on Ember. We should leave soon."

"She still hasn't left?" Wade had gone and removed her bridle earlier; it didn't feel right to leave her tied up for so long, and they weren't going to need her any longer. The horse couldn't carry more than one rider without quickly tiring. And with Aurum so close, he'd expected her to bolt as soon as she could.

"No."

Asher frowned. "Why?"

"Perhaps her previous owner was abusive."

"Or she just really likes us," Wade said with a shrug. He caught the look his father gave him and hastily turned around. "Right, right. I'm going."

With one last glance at the sea, he slipped through the close-set trees to the horse. She was dozing where he'd left her, her neck drooping toward the ground. Her ears twitched as he approached, and she lifted her head.

Wade looked at the bridle, limply hanging on a nearby branch. He grabbed it and turned to Ember. She glanced at the bit and tossed her head, stamping one hoof against the ground. He hesitated, thinking.

"Do we even need to bridle her?" he shouted over his shoulder.

There was a short pause; he could just hear Asher and his father talking to one another. Then, unexpectedly, Aurum answered him.

No. Come back—the horse will follow you.

What? Why? She'll run. What did Ash just tell you?

Just trust me.

Wade frowned and slung the bridle over his shoulder, not quite sure what to do with it. He took a few steps toward the cliff, and, sure enough, Ember followed him. Her nostrils flared—she probably smelled Aurum—but she showed no sign of fear. When they emerged from the cover of the trees and the dragon came into view, she seemed entirely unaffected.

"Okay," Wade said, turning from Asher to his father to Aurum. "What did he do?"

Asher looked pointedly at Aurum, likely repeating the question.

I have my ways, the dragon said. Asher rolled his eyes.

Wade glanced at his friend, confused. Wait, he asked Aurum. Can you talk to us both at the same time?

Yes. Obviously.

Wade blinked. I didn't know that.

There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Aurum said smugly.

Like how you can talk to horses.

I just told her that I meant her no harm. She believed me.

Wade just shook his head. So you can create a link with any creature?

Mostly, yes. Though it is harder with some than others. The dragon blinked at Asher, who stared back with a faintly confused expression.

Wade's father suddenly whistled, sharp and loud. Both Asher and Wade jumped, and Aurum's wings twitched.

"Boys," he said. "Focus." He looked at Asher. "We were leaving?"

I'll fly overhead, Aurum said. He darted toward the cliff and dived into the air, soaring far above their heads within seconds. All of them watched him until the dragon was just a tiny black dot amongst the clouds.

"Right." Asher cleared his throat and looked at the mountains. "Follow me."

<><><>

Around midday, they reached the foothills of the mountains. The terrain, though not nearly as intimidating as the giant cliffs and bare stone of the peaks that rose up before them, was difficult to traverse. Steep slopes and sudden dips in the rocky ground confronted them at every turn, hidden behind the towering trees. They were forced to walk along thin deer trails or dried out riverbeds, guided by Aurum's watchful eye.

Wade wasn't sure what they'd do without the dragon to guide them. He flew for most of the day, occasionally contacting them to point out a new route or warn them against walking through especially dangerous areas. He touched down only a few times to sleep, and quickly caught up to them when he woke. It was amazing how little sleep the dragon needed.

Their progress was slow but steady: by the time night fell and they were forced to stop, they were just skirting around the base of the first mountain. With Aurum's help, they found a small river and rested beside the bank. The mountain rose up above them, spearing through the thin clouds like a giant sword.

They were talking quietly when Aurum landed. He drank from the river and lifted his head up to the sky, where the first few stars were making their appearance.

I'm going to go hunting, he said. I haven't eaten in days.

Good luck, Wade replied. Asher nodded beside him.

The dragon rested his muscles for a few minutes before leaping back into the air. He headed toward the mountains, his black figure quickly disappearing into the darkening sky.

Asher had gone to Ember, stroking her dark coat, and Wade's father was lying under a large tree. His eyes were closed. Wade padded over to the blacksmith, careful to make no sound. He stopped a few feet away, feeling slightly worried. As they had walked, he'd noticed his father had slowed down a little. Even now, his face was drawn and wan.

"Dad?" he whispered.

"Yes?" His father's eyes opened, though he didn't move.

Wade shuffled his feet. "How are you feeling? You still look really tired."

His father chuckled. "I'm alright, son. Don't worry about me; that's my job."

". . . Okay," Wade relented. He left the smith to his sleep and sat beside the river, watching the water flow toward the now-distant ocean. Above him, a thin layer of clouds moved to hide the stars and moon from view, swathing the land in darkness.

He hadn't been sitting there long when Asher materialized behind his shoulder. Wade flinched; his friend was getting far too good at fading into the shadows.

"Hi," Asher said, sitting down next to him.

"Hey." Wade hesitated. He hadn't had a good chance to talk to his friend yet, and he still had hundreds of questions whirling through his mind. "Ash, I've been meaning to ask you something."

"What?"

"What's it like to use magic?"

Asher drew his knees to his chest. "I don't really know how to explain it. It's like this . . . this ancient current that flows through the whole world. It's inside us all, but also in the air and the ground and, well, everything. And I can see it, if I want to."

"Inside us all? So me and my father have magic, too?"

Asher nodded. "We all have the same amount. I don't know why people like me can use it and you can't."

"Strange." Wade tilted his head. "How do you control magic?"

"Er . . ." Asher thought for a moment. "I guess there's two different parts. The magic inside me isn't exactly something I can control—it just responds to my emotions. That can be pretty dangerous, so I try to tamp it down. When I usually use magic, I tap into what's around me. It's hard to get a grip on, but once you have it it's not that hard to direct."

"That's incredible." Wade twisted his hands together. "Can you really do anything with it?"

"Pretty much. Some things are easier than others."

"Like what?"

Asher paused. "It's not very difficult to do physical things. Creating fire, manipulating the air, all of that. But for the more . . . obscure things—like tracking this girl—it's a lot harder to make the magic work with me."

Wade's eyes wandered to the mountains. "So she can do the same things you can?"

Asher nodded again. He seemed a little uncomfortable.

"I wonder how far away she is," Wade said, switching the topic.

"I'm still trying to figure it out." Asher frowned. "But I don't think she's very far. It would've been a lot harder to locate her if she was."

"That's good to hear."

There was a long silence. Wade considered going to sleep, but he didn't want to rest until Aurum returned. He looked back at his father, lost in his dreams.

"Ash," he said, jerking his thumb at the blacksmith, "have you noticed anything off about him?"

"He's exhausted and stressed," Asher said after a moment. "We are as well, but . . . I think he's pushing himself too hard."

"I knew it," Wade muttered, striking his leg. "But what can we do about it?"

". . . Escape."

"Escape what?"

"Eldernia. The Valkir. Everything." Asher waved his arms around vaguely. "We need to get out of this mess. We need to be able to rest without having someone up keeping guard. We need to be safe." He pressed his hands against his eyes. "That's not really an option, though. I guess the only thing we can do is hope this girl is friendly and can somehow help us."

Wade scoffed. "Ash, you absolute hypocrite. You just told me my father was pushing himself too hard." He paused, suddenly serious again. "We can't lose hope. It's all we have."

Asher let out a weak laugh. "Hope can't stop the Valkir."

Wade scowled and lightly whacked the back of Asher's head. "Stop worrying, Ash. You're almost worse than my father. Letting the stress get to us will only make things worse." Wade chose not to mention that Asher's words had mirrored his own fears perfectly.

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry."

"There's no need to—"

Ember snorted behind them. That wasn't very strange in itself, but there was something off in her tone. Wade spun around to face the horse. She'd shied away from the trees, her tail clamped between her legs. Her ears were flicking back and forth, and her upper lip suddenly curled. She moved closer to the boys.

Asher stiffened and got to his feet, spinning in a tight circle. His hands twitched, and Wade felt a faint, electrical sort of energy building in the air. The hair on his arms stood up.

"Henry," Asher said, his voice low and hard. Wade tensed: his friend never referred to his father like that. Not out loud. Something was definitely wrong.

Wade's father stirred and pushed himself upright. Wade beckoned him over. He drew his sword with his other hand, eyeing the trees around them. The blacksmith joined them, still and grave. He grasped his hammer and waited silently.

Something shifted in the trees in front of them. Asher jumped. There was a soft crackling sound, and his hands were suddenly wreathed in white flames, radiating such an intense heat Wade thought his skin would burn away. Ember pranced away from the fire, moving across the river where all was silent.

"Show yourselves!" Asher called. His eyes darted from side to side.

Nothing but silence.

"Ash, what is it?"

"People. A lot of people."

"How can you see them?"

"Used magic. Now hush, I'm trying to listen."

Aurum! Wade cried through the bond.

I'm already coming. Hold on.

Wade scanned the forest around them. A bead of sweat trickled from his forehead to his chin. He tightened his grip on his sword.

Ever so slowly, two figures emerged from the shadows. The first, a man, was dressed in mismatched, dirty clothes and carried a rusty shortsword. He flashed them an arrogant smile, running a finger down the blade. To his left was a woman who seemed to be around the same age. She shared the same dirty blond hair as the man, and her face bore a strong resemblance to his. Her expression was abnormally calm as she looked at the fire twining around Asher's hands, and a hint of greed flashed through her eyes. She twirled a small dagger in her hand.

"Bandits," Wade whispered.

"So," the man said after a pause. "A magi. Never thought I'd get to see one." Another moment of silence. "But where are my manners? My name is Dean, and this is my sister, Eva. What about you three?"

"What do you want?" Asher growled, completely ignoring the man's question. "We have nothing for you to steal."

Dean leaned back, examining their tight little group. "No, you don't. But you have decided to sleep rather close to our camp."

"Then we'll leave," Wade said.

Eva shifted. "You know, there's quite the reward out for bringing a magi to the Valkir. Dead or alive." She smirked. "Though the latter option pays more."

"How many of you are there?" Asher asked. His entire body was tensed.

"Eleven," Dean said. "You're surrounded. I think it would be in everyone's best interest if you surrendered now."

Asher swore under his breath. "If you think you can so much as touch us," he said, raising his voice, "you are sorely mistaken." The fire around his hands flared. The light speared outward, cutting through the darkness like a knife. Wade glimpsed a few figures crouching in the shadows to his left. He lifted his sword, and they scuttled out of sight.

Dean hesitated; a few whispers erupted from the trees around them. After a moment, he sighed. "I had hoped it didn't come to this."

He flicked his hand. An arrow shot out from the tree to his right, aimed for Asher's heart. Wade began to move toward his friend, but could already tell he would be too late.

Asher sucked in a sharp breath. When the arrow was only a few feet away, it turned in a tight circle and flew towards Dean. The man's cocky facade melted away in an instant, replaced by pure terror. He ducked; it whistled mere inches from his head and into the darkness. There was a cry of pain, and the soft thump of a body striking the ground.

"Leave us be!" Asher shouted, wild with fear. Dean didn't move; Eva's eyes narrowed. Wade blinked as another drop of sweat fell into his left eye.

None of them saw the second arrow. It flew from the trees behind them and buried itself in Asher's back, just above his hip. Asher screamed and fell to one knee, the fire around his hands vanishing in an instant.

"Ash!" Wade yelled, grasping his friend's arm and holding him up. The arrow had struck the far right side of Asher's body. It didn't look like it had penetrated anything other than muscle and fat, but he had no way to be sure.

"I'm fine," Asher said through clenched teeth, staggering upright. "I'm fine."

"I think you've overestimated yourself," Dean said. His fear had vanished along with Asher's fire.

Eva lifted her head, sensing an opportunity. "The next shot will go through your eye. If that doesn't work, it will go through theirs." She pointed at Wade and his father with her dagger.

Asher's face twisted, and he raised one arm. The air shimmered around himself, Wade, and the blacksmith, forming a sort of transparent wall. "I'd like to see you try," he growled.

Someone else, still hidden in the darkness, spoke out. His voice, heightened with fear, was just loud enough for Wade to hear. "What do we do?"

Dean narrowed his eyes. "He's young and injured. He can't hold us all back forever. Can you, friend?" He raised his voice, smirking at Asher.

Asher spat a curse back at the man, leaning against Wade for support.

Wade's father spoke up for the first time. "No matter what happens, we will still be able to kill many of you." He turned around, glaring into the shadows. "Who wants to be the first?"

There was a brief silence, and then Eva laughed. "Old man, the worst thing we could suffer from that hammer is a few broken bones."

Wade lifted his sword. "This isn't just for show," he warned.

"You're but a boy." Dean sneered. He raised his arms, and there was a flurry of movement. He spoke even louder now. "The magi cannot hold that barrier forever. Attack!"

There was a chorus of fierce cries, and dark figures spilled out of the trees around them. They crashed against the barrier, swinging at it with all their strength. Wade felt Asher flinch.

"Wade, Henry," he said quietly, his voice strained. "I'm not going to be able to keep this up very long."

Wade tightened his grip on his sword. "Tell us what to do."

Asher's face was getting paler. A dribble of blood was leaking down his side, dark and wet. "If I faint and this wall disappears, start swinging."

Wade and his father both nodded, lifting their respective weapons. But Asher had more in mind than simple defence. A ring of white fire leapt up around the barrier, moving hungrily toward their attackers. A few bandits screamed and scurried away, jumping into the river to avoid the flames. However, another flurry of arrows took their place. Asher swayed, and the fire flickered and died.

"He's getting weaker!" Eva cried. The greed in her eyes had returned in full force. The bandits moved forward again, striking with renewed strength. The barrier began to fade; Asher stumbled and gritted his teeth.

Three more agonizing seconds ticked past. Just as it seemed Asher would lose control and collapse, a fearsome roar shattered the night sky. Aurum dropped down from the clouds like a black arrow, landing in the midst of the bandits. He whirled around, claws and teeth flashing in the darkness. Screams rose up around him, loud and horrible.

Asher sagged against Wade, and the barrier dissipated. At that point, however, the bandits had lost interest in fighting. They fled in every direction, rigid with fear. Dean, however, held his ground and attacked the dragon. His sword slid harmlessly off his thick scales, but the bandit managed to tear through a part of his wing. Aurum roared, his pain filtering through the bond, and swept the man aside with his tail. Dean flew through the air and collapsed to the ground, groaning.

"Dean!" Eva screamed. She helped her brother up and ran after the other bandits, quickly disappearing into the forest.

Mere seconds later, all of their attackers were either gone or dead. Wade's father moved to Asher's other side and helped hold him up.

"Are you alright, son?" he asked.

"Yes," Asher gasped. He tried to claw himself upright before slipping back down, holding a hand to his side.

"We need to run," Wade said. "Before they come back." He looked at Aurum. Can you stay with us?

Of course. The dragon tossed his head to the side: to his surprise Wade saw Ember, still half-hidden in the trees on the opposite bank. Go now. Ride the horse with Asher, and I will carry your father as I run.

Wade was about to move when his father grabbed his wrist.

"One more thing," he muttered. He grasped the shaft of the arrow still sticking out of Asher's back and snapped it. Asher hissed and closed his eyes.

With that done, Wade related Aurum's plan and whistled to Ember. She darted across the river and stood beside him, her sides heaving up and down. Wade mounted the horse and helped his father lift Asher up behind him.

Wade wanted nothing more than to wait for his father to get on Aurum and follow, but he knew that the dragon was fast enough to catch up. He reached for the reins and suddenly paused, realizing that he'd left them behind on the cliff with her bridle.

"Just grab her neck!" his father shouted.

Wade did as he said and kicked Ember's sides, shooting one last fearful glance over his shoulder. "Hah!"

Ember seemed to understand. She raced forward, galloping through the dense trees. Wade was forced to cling to her and Asher at the same time as they were jostled from side to side. His friend was getting weaker; soon he wouldn't be able to hold on without help.

We're going to be okay, Wade told himself, chanting the words over and over again in his head as they hurtled through complete darkness. We're okay we're okay we're okay.

He may have been a good enough actor to fool a Valkir, but he couldn't lie to himself.