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I’ve needed time to readjust. That is all, Scarlett.

I know,she replied, beginning to walk into the snowy expanse before them.

They were somewhere between a mountain range on the west side of the continent and some expanse of cliffs and canyons that reminded Sorin of the Wind Court. The cliffs seemed to connect the Nightmist Mountains with the other mountain range and ran along the northern part of the continent. And somewhere around here, there was supposed to be a mirror gate.

Sorin set off after Scarlett, falling into step beside her. “Which other mirror gates have you visited?”

“None across the Edria,” she replied.

“And in Avonleya?”

“I found one other one. In the southern part of the continent.”

“And you’ve kept it a secret because…?”

“Because I don’t want Cethin thinking I need to be followed everywhere. I am not entirely sure how much I trust him right now. If I happen to find something unexpected, I want to be in control of if and when he learns it,” she answered.

“Kailia hasn’t followed you?”

“I’ve had to be more strategic since the attack at the estate, but no. She does not follow me. That way,” she said, pointing to the right.

She turned, starting down a small decline. He knew she was using a Mark she had drawn on the palm of her right hand to guide her. How it worked, he had no idea.

“There is nothing guarding the mirror gates?” he asked.

“I never said that.”

“Scarlett…”

“I’m fine, aren’t I?”

“By the gods,” he cursed under his breath. “What guards them?”

“My shadow panthers took care of them.”

“Scarlett. What were they?” He reached out, tugging her to a stop.

“I don’t know what they were, Sorin. Some type of serpent creature.” She swiped a gloved hand down her face before her eyes fixed on the ground. Then she was dropping down and wiping away the small smattering of snow that had fallen. “Sorin, do you see this?”

He crouched next to her, seeing nothing but barren grey ground. He’d long since learned that didn’t mean anything, though. “I do not,” he answered, looking over at her. “What do you see?”

She pulled a glove off, her finger tracing along something. “I can’t make out what it says,” she murmured. She used her other hand to clear away more snow. “This isn’t Avonleyan.”

But he was only half-listening to her now. Something felt…wrong. He scanned the surrounding area. There was nothing out here but snow and rock and grey skies. Pulling one of the short swords strapped to his waist, he pushed to his feet and turned in a slow circle.

“I feel it too,” Scarlett murmured, still studying the ground. Shadows pooled, her panthers forming and beginning to prowl around them. “I can’t figure out what I’m missing.”

“Perhaps we go figure it out somewhere else then come back,” Sorin muttered. “Something is not right here, Scarlett.”

“Just a few more minutes. It has to be here,” she replied. She pricked her finger, now tracing whatever she saw with her blood.

Then the ground began to shake.

“Scarlett,” Sorin snapped, gripping her elbow and hauling her upright and into his side. “What did you do?”

“I think my blood activated the Marks,” she whispered, a slight nervousness in her voice.

“And what are those Marks going to do?”