vanished suddenly from their sight. erin gave a low moan, slipped through roshka's arms to the ground. she covered her face with her hands.

"i will return to you," aeriel cried, walking backward, away from them, and erin screamed, weeping into her hands. roshka knelt, trembling violently, held her against him. with his other hand, he caught nightwalker's bridle. the horse was sidling; its eyes rolled.

aeriel turned blindly and followed the gargoyles. catwing and greyling walked beside her on either hand, the mooncalf ranging on ahead. aeriel fared shadowless between solstar's and the tower's light, down the road toward terrain.