“So,” Lynx said, his gravelly voice quieting everyone, “some Riders’ abilities have failed, at least two of you sense an enhancement, and the rest are not aware of any problems. What does this add up to?”

Everyone turned their gazes back to Mara.

“I have no answers for you,” she said, “but we now know there’s a definite problem afflicting us, and the only way to begin addressing it is to acknowledge there is a problem, to hear everything as a group. Why is Ephram’s ability enhanced? Why can’t Tegan properly sense the weather? What happened—is happening—to Captain Mapstone?

“Karigan has quite a tale to tell, which includes difficulty with her ability, and the broader problems. Karigan?”

She squirmed in her chair as everyone’s attention shifted from Mara to her. Panic beat in her chest at the idea of having to reveal so much to so many others.

Mara nudged her foot under the table.

She licked her lips. It had to be done; she had to stop hiding things, but deep down, she feared they’d only confirm her madness.

As she told her tale, just as she had told Mara the day before, the common room quieted. The sounds from outdoors—birdsong, soldiers riding by in formation, the ringing of three hour—all seemed to be happening in some other realm.

The Riders listened to her with wonder and incredulity registering on their faces. When she finished speaking of Lil Ambrioth, she was met with utter silence.

And then the babble erupted all at once, everyone demanding to have questions answered. Mara tried to answer, but she was drowned put by the commotion.

“Quiet!” Garth thundered.

Everyone did, and Mara passed him a smile of appreciation. “One question at a time, please,” she said.

“What about the First Rider?” Ephram asked. “I find that far-fetched.”

Karigan couldn’t answer him. His words were like a pronouncement of her insanity.

“As I recall, Ephram,” Dale said, “you were not yet with us two years ago during Prince Amilton’s coup attempt. I was. I fought at the Battle of the Lost Lake. Karigan was there, too, struggling against the Eletian, with ghosts battling all around them. I think I even saw Lil Ambrioth there among them, though it could have been wishful thinking. I at least heard her horn.” Others who had been there voiced their agreement.

“During Karigan’s journey here that spring, she was aided by ghosts, including the spirit of F’ryan Coblebay, who in life had been a good friend of mine. If Karigan says she’s been talking with the First Rider, then I believe her.” Several Riders backed her with words of affirmation.

“Sorry if I’m a bit skeptical,” Ephram said.

Karigan, grateful for Dale’s words of confidence, said, “I hardly believe it myself, but the point of the matter is that something is going on with magic, and it’s not just us. It’s those other things, too; the stone deer and the rainbows.

“The words of the First Rider only confirm what the Eletian, Telagioth, told me. Powers are stirring, and there is trouble arising in Blackveil. No doubt this is the source of our problems, but exactly how or why it’s affecting us on this side of the wall, I don’t know. Magic has been kept hidden for so many years, who would know?”

The bright sunshine and birdsong flowing through the windows were counterpoint to her words.

“Has any message come from Alton?” Ty asked.

“No,” Mara said. “None at all.”

Karigan turned her thoughts to Alton, wondering how he fared, what he was doing . . . Had he made any progress with the wall? Just because they hadn’t heard any news didn’t mean anything bad. It just meant there was nothing to report. Still, it didn’t sit well with her that he was there at the breach if Blackveil was, in truth, arising. He would be directly in the path of danger.

She missed several comments and questions being tossed about among the Riders as she considered Alton’s well-being, until Yates spoke.

“What is King Zachary doing about this?”

“At present,” Mara said, “nothing.”

Some of the Riders cried out in dismay.

“Nothing?” Yates said.

When it appeared Mara was at a loss as to how to respond, Karigan said, “How can he do anything against magic? It’s not something like—like a land dispute that can be easily solved. This is something completely new and unknown. He did send Alton to the wall, and Alton is trying to fix the breach, and that’s something. The king, he—he is—” She stumbled to an ungainly stop when she realized how ardent her defense of him sounded.

She cleared her throat. “I guess it’s, um, up to us to find the answers the king needs so he can do something about it.” The room felt entirely too warm despite all the open windows. She clamped her mouth shut, hoping to keep it that way for the remainder of the meeting.

Mara flashed her a smile that was laden with a little too much smugness for Karigan’s comfort.

“So, we are back at the beginning,” Mara said, “with out answers, but at least we’re aware. I want everyone to be more careful than ever, especially when it comes to using your abilities. If they work, that is. Report back to me and the king anything strange—anything at all—you encounter while out on your errands.”

An uneasy silence followed. It had been a meeting with no conclusions made, no problems solved. There was a threat that remained largely undefined; a threat on a personal level, and one that also encompassed the kingdom. It was a threat none of them could quantify. It had taken down their captain. Who was next? What would the arising of Blackveil portend?