Zephyra smelled home before she saw it. The air changed as they got closer to Velkaria's border - less pine and earth, more herbs and flowers and that particular scent of witch magic that had surrounded her whole life.

"We're close," she said, and her voice sounded weird even to her own ears. Excited and nervous and scared all at the same time.

"How close?" Valtoor asked.

"Maybe an hour. Two at most." She pointed ahead through the trees. "There's a ridge up there, and once we cross it we'll ...