Yaret returns to her home town to find that everything has changed. For Obandiro has been visited by darkburns - the mysterious creatures from the forest that bring fire and devastation. Somehow she must join the fight against them. But where and how can she find her former helpers and allies, the Riders of the Vonn?
Excerpt:
Thoronal was grinning in triumph. “Forward! Attack!” he shouted. “We have them on the back foot!” He led the charge at a run, with his company following at his heels.
“Wait!” bellowed Rothir. The shout went unheeded. Thoronal’s troop were racing down the hill towards the stonemen, who made no attempt to fight, but rapidly withdrew towards the forest. Rothir saw Maeneb standing in their midst, holding back whilst Riders ran past her with their swords upraised.
And then they all came to a sudden, stumbling halt.
“What in the name of all the stars is that?” muttered Ebril beside him.
For out of the shadow of the trees, herded by the second group of stonemen, something was emerging: something long and low and creeping, but creeping fast. This was different to any previous foe.
Although it was as charcoaled as a darkburn it was bigger than any that he had come across before; and more distinct – no formless whirl of smoke, but a solid, clawed, yet almost headless shape. Some spur-like objects on its back might be rudimentary wings.
What was more, the malice and hatred that emanated from it were far greater than any he had felt from any darkburn hitherto. The fury. The relentless loathing. The inner voice commanding him to die.
He felt his muscles turn to milk and his limbs begin to tremble. This was what he had feared. When he tried to grip his sword firmly he could barely feel its hilt, let alone raise it.
The darkburn was glowing. Somewhere in the centre of it there was fire.