The morning after the wild, fire-lit celebrations at the temporary valley camp, the long journey back from the Neutral Citadel to the permanent Up Pack fortress was a silent one for Nila. While the vanguard warriors rode with chests puffed out, their dark cloaks billowing in the mountain wind as they still celebrated yesterdays victory, Nila kept her eyes fixed entirely on her mare’s black mane.

The heavy stone gates of the mountain lodge closed behind them, shutting out the wild territory, but the suffocating pressure inside Nila's chest only grew tighter.

That evening, she stood by the wide arched windows of Kaelen’s private solar. The golden silver-ringed fire in...