Chapter 23

Aris and Harlan Raker step out of the mists into a vast forest of silver skyquills. At a creek, Raker wordlessly tosses Aris his prized soap, and she bathes, briefly savoring peace. A translucent skyhorse appears and vanishes into mist, hinting at undiscovered creatures. Foraging for berries, Aris is suddenly targeted by a colossal, magic-breathing steelclaw bear.

Aris flees as the steelclaw topples trees and scythes the forest with silver beams. As it closes in, an immortal hunter fires a massive crossbow, piercing the beast’s heart. Raker yanks Aris clear of the collapsing body. The hunter harvests the bear’s spines and explains it is an aethervore drawn to the latent magic in Aris’s sword—power she cannot activate as a mortal. The steelclaw’s saliva heals Aris’s wounds, which she quickly collects in a vial.

The immortal introduces his dragon, Invira, a skyrend that breathes water and promptly drenches, then dries, Aris. The hunter refuses to carry them on Invira but agrees to trade: for Aris’s saberwolf fangs, he will procure a mount to cut days from their journey. He identifies the goal as a skyhorse, which he can lure with a frozen apple.

As night falls, the forest glows with constellations of poisonous fireflies. The hunter asserts the woods are demon-safe by elements other than water, and they continue on. Aris reflects on the coexistence of beauty and danger, exchanges wordless, charged looks with Raker, and learns to be wary of lovely, lethal creatures. The trio presses deeper, intent on drawing out a skyhorse to carry Aris and Raker safely and swiftly onward.