The dim light from the moon barely filtered through the small window, casting soft shadows across the room. Luke lay back, replaying the last several hours in his mind. What had started as a simple journey back to Nateron had shifted dramatically—first the slow, safe route they'd intended, and now a bold, far more dangerous alternative.
The secret of the Tesser in Hematheas, a mystical relic shrouded in history and barely understood by even the elves, offered them a swift passage. But the path was laden with complications, not least of which was returning Ilyrana to the kingdom that had exiled her.
He knew they needed speed, and every day, losing put Nateron at greater risk. Time was a relentless force, leaving them with no option but to pursue this perilous shortcut. Still, as he lay there in the quiet, he could not fully surrender to sleep.
