The storm finally broke just before sundown, the annoying, persistent drizzle of rain drying up at last. As the sun poked a red, tentative eye through the cloudbank, its dusky light fell upon the dew-speckled grass and turned all the fields to shimmering fire.

Vix shifted uncomfortably. Blinking the last of the rainwater from her eyes, she checked her surroundings. A trackless wilderness stretched out in all directions. Groups of sturdy pine trees fanned out across the rolling grass, ...