Valina opened her eyes just as the sun was rising over the mountaintops. It only took her a moment before she started to remember where she was, and she bolted upright, frantically getting a read on her surroundings. She was still at the training ground. The trees that lined it were all scorched, but apparently had been extinguished before they spread far, leaving a ring of charred trunks and ash.

Tavin was lying face down on the ground a few paces from her. She scrambled over to him, ...