Rhode accepted some bread and water after she had thrown up her fill of mud. Hypnos cast another spell to remedy her weakness. Dusk had set in, and Grave lit a torch near the mouth of the cavern. The necromancer had disappeared from view, but Rhode could hear him going bump in the dark, near the river bank. She thought she heard a small animal braying from that direction.

'It is almost time," Grave told her. 'The solstice is upon us."

He gave her a cloak and turned away to give ...