Katelina and Jorick took their place near one of the gates. A stone foundation stretched across the ground and a lake glittered through the screen of trees. Budding branches swayed gently. Early spring grass poked up from the damp ground. Katelina could smell the earth and the young greenery. Somewhere a cricket chirped, unaware of what was coming.

To her right she could see the next gate, where Verchiel and Jamie were stationed. The redhead hopped up the wall to stand on the ...