The dew had already collected when Therasia spread her blanket and sat down on the outskirts of Nightglade. The night was cold, but at least the air was crisp and refreshing instead of heavy and damp. Therasia shook her hair out of the tight bun it had been placed into, then gathered her bearings. The distant, foreign light still shone above her, but she was far enough for it not to bother her. This was the first time she’d taken a break ever since the invasion started. She wasn’t sure ho...

Riel had been minding his own business, doing his best to ignore the snow and the biting weather, when a snowball landed right between his hairline and the neckline of his jacket. It shattered on the impact, oozing down his clothes across his skin, and he hissed and ducked on instinct. It was a good instinct, too. Another snowball whizzed right past the stop where he’d been standing. Maybe it wouldn’t have landed right in his face, but Riel was glad that he didn’t have to find out the h...

Riel seemed to doubt Therasia’s ability to turn the ice block into anything substantial. That was alright — Therasia doubted her own ability to make anything substantial out of ice too. But she’d be damned if she gave up now, especially after she’d dragged Riel all the way there. Or he’d dragged her, maybe, she wasn’t sure. Somebody had to make a suggestion first, but somebody also had to be bold enough to follow through. If she had to bet on it, she’d bet on herself being the b...