THORNE POINT OF VIEW

Consciousness returned slowly, like a tide dragging me back against my will.

At first there was only sensation, heat against my skin, the dull ache of my limbs, the heavy pull in my chest each time I tried to breathe. The air smelled wrong. Not pine and damp earth. Not blood and iron.

Herbs.

Smoke.

Old stone.

My eyes snapped open.

I sucked in a sharp breath and immediately regretted it.

Pain tore through my side, white-hot and merciless, stealing the air from my ...