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“With me.” Thane started down the sandy shoreline, tugging Phantom along behind him.

Layala hung back to give him some space and let the others go around her. Whether he blamed her, himself, or the world, sometimes people needed to be left alone. Heavy silence between the Ravens weighed like a stack of bricks, and then the thunder cracked above. The ever-darkening, inflated clouds seemed to be angry too at the death that infected the air. A raindrop hit her cheek. Layala groaned, and then another until a downpour rivaling the waterfall itself hit. It made the grass slick as they started their climb. Those in front hacked furiously at twisting roots the size of Layala’s thigh and sliced through low-hanging branches to clear a path up the incline. It was an hour before they made it to the summit, nearly dusk, but as Siegfried said, there the portal stood.

It was covered in moss, the edges chipped, the runes running along the top weather warn, and at its base, ivy and white calla lilies grew densely. Thane wasted no time in placing his palm flat against the stone. Everyone gathered in a half circle and waited. And waited. With the horses and elves shifting uneasily, Layala’s grip on the leather reins in her hand tightened. Was his magic still suppressed by the katagas serum?

Although the rain had eased, droplets hung on her lashes and dripped from her nose. She swiped a hand over her face to clear the water. This couldn’t be a good sign. The other portals had filled with warmth and life within moments.

With a frustrated sigh, Thane dropped his hand to his side and tilted his chin up. His shoulders rose and fell sharply. “Layala, come here please.”

Everyone stared, except Thane. His back was still to them. Letting the horse’s reins go, she quietly stepped forward and to his side. It took strength to look up at him. He kept his gaze narrowed on the stone. “Can you get it to work? I can barely feel my magic because of the serum.”

She lifted a shoulder and with bated breath, touched her fingertips to it. It was cool, slick, and the energy that hummed from the others wasn’t there.You can’t be serious.She closed her eyes and flattened her hand, willing something to happen.Come on, wake up… a moment passed… there was… something there. A spark of warmth barely discernible.

Hello?Layala silently called.

Nothing. She was about to let go when soft voices said,“Hello.”She somehow knew that it was only in her head.

Can you take us to Newarden, Calladira?

Our power is weak. Long have we lay dormant.

You can have some of mine.

A long pause.

We sense sadness in you, mage.

Thane cleared his throat, and Layala opened one eye. “I’m—communicating.”

“Communicating? What is it saying?”

She shut her eyes again. “It senses—sadness.”

“Can we go through or not?”

Impatient, much?Can we pass with my magic’s strength?

We need more.

“Thane, touch the stone. It seems my magic alone isn’t enough.”

“I don’t have much to offer at the moment.”

“We need to at least try.”

She didn’t look to see if he complied. A tugging sensation down her arm and through her hand was tell enough.

This is old magic… ancient, the wispy voices said.Somehow familiar.

Thane finally met her gaze. He must have found that as strange as she did. Neither of them had ever been here.

How?Layala silently asked.

A pause.Wecan’t place it.

It kept taking and taking. It was like trying to swim against a violent current that towed her back, until fatigue set in her legs, her shoulders sagged, and her arm felt like it was weighed down with sandbags.

“That’s enough,” Thane said sharply. Cool fingers wrapped around Layala’s wrist, and he pulled her touch away from it.