They left before sunrise.

The road to Veyra stretched south through a forest that seemed to grow darker with every mile.

No birds sang.

No animals crossed their path.

Even the wind had become strangely quiet.

Lucien rode at the front with Seraphina beside him.

Behind them came Lyra, Nethros, Aster, and the Keeper.

For several hours, nobody spoke.

Then Nethros broke the silence.

"We're being followed."

Lucien looked back.

"How many?"

"I don't know."

Seraphina frowned.

"You don't know?"

Nethros shook his head.

"That's what worries me."

---

They stopped at noon.

Lucien dismounted and examined the ground.

There were no footprints.

No broken branches.

Nothing.

"Are you sure?"...