Ahlund led the way, hacking at foliage with his long knife. Whether he navigated from memory or something else, Justin did not know. He had said it would be a two-day trip to Esthean, but the rain was slowing everything down. Justin's clothes were saturated. His hands were wrinkled, and blisters were rubbing raw on the tops and sides of his soaking feet. The rain pounded relentlessly.

It had poured all night and showed no signs of stopping. It made sleep nearly impossible. Covering up ...