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An attack? That would be madness. But that would explain why they’re walking instead of flying, where they can be more easily spotted.

My thoughts whirl like a leaf caught in an updraft. Only days ago, couriers spoke of unusual troop movements in Aclaris, both in the south and north.

But Aclaris is also fighting the drachen’s insidious threat. Starting a fight against a foreign nation while they’re still struggling against creatures slaughtering them in their homelands would be suicide.

Hours pass, and the land gives way to the ocean’s expanse. Below us, the water stretches dark and deep, a fathomless abyss untouched by the chaos of war. Fishing boats bob gently, specks of white against the blue canvas. No signs of conflict down there, just the simple rhythms of life.

Shifting my bag forward, I retrieve the map with practiced ease. Unfolding it, I cross-reference our current location with the jagged lines and contours inked onto the parchment.

We’re close, but with the approaching twilight, we need to make camp for the night. I don’t want to fly through unfamiliar territory in the dark.

Bastian and I are quiet once we land and find a good spot on the beach to rest. The dragons wander off to hunt, though they stay close enough that I still feel them. Our dinner consists of a few hunks of cheese and dried jerky. Not the best meal I’ve had, but it’s something.

The night is blissfully uneventful, and as we take off early the next morning, the strip of golden beach gives way to the silver ribbon of a river that snakes lazily through verdant farmland. I trace the river’s path with my gaze. My fingers dance over the map as we cross into a denser landscape, the lush canopy of an ancient forest spreading beneath us like a sea of green.

I squint as towering peaks come into view, searching for the ones that match the map. The sun hangs low, casting long shadows and bathing the rocks in hues of orange and pink. I let the dragons know I’m sorry they’ve had to fly so far, but that we’re nearly there now.

Kaida’s amusement tickles at the edge of my mind. He’s glad of the chance to stretch his wings like this and could go on for another two days at this pace.

Show-off.

I laugh, shaking my head at the dragon’s bravado. Still, a part of me swells with pride. Having such steadfast companions is a blessing I’ll never take for granted.

We press on, the mountains growing ever taller, their snowy crowns lost to the clouds above. After a little investigating, we locate the small peak that lines up perfectly with a much larger one behind it, like mother and child.

I focus on a clearing at the mountain’s base.This should be it.

Kaida’s talons kick up a cloud of dust as we touch down. Nailah lands beside us, and both dragons stretch their necks, eagerly sniffing the air.

“You sure this is the right spot?” Bastian swings down from Nailah’s back with practiced ease. “It doesn’t look like a valley.”

“Well, it is called Hidden Valley for a reason, Bastian. Did you really think we could just fly into it?”

He snorts. “Point taken.”

I scan the rock wall for any sign of an entrance, but find nothing. Just cold, unyielding stone.

“The map says we need to be invited in. But I don’t know what that means.” I step closer, running my hands over the rocky surface, willing it to reveal its secrets. There must be a way in. Surely Nyc wouldn’t send us on a wild goose chase. “Let’s look around for something that might be a signal or a lever of some kind.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll just search for the door knocker. That should stand out nicely against the mountainside.”

My brother is way less stiff and formal now that we’re getting to know each other, a sharp contrast to how he acted when we first met. It’s good to know Bastian and I share a lot more than just our looks.

I grin. “Hello? Hidden Valley?” My voice bounces off the rock. “May we come in, please?”

There’s no answer. Not that I expected one, but it was worth a shot. We start searching the trees, cliffs, piles of fallen rock, and even the ground.

Kaida and Nailah stand impatiently as we check everything in the area, even scouting a bit wider than I think we should.

Still, we find nothing.

I try calling up my fire, in case the magical lock we’re hunting will respond to my presence. After that, I attempt nicking my thumb and testing my blood against anything that appears movable.

Other than knocking over a few rocks, nothing happens.

Frustration knots in my gut, and I turn away, blinking back the tears that threaten to fall. After everything—the dangers faced, the distance traveled—I refuse to be stopped by a slab of stone. I drop my dampening shield in a last-ditch effort to commune with Nailah and Kaida, hoping they might have some ideas.

A flood of emotions crashes into me. Nailah’s feelings are like wildfire, too intertwined and quick to grasp.