Chapter 2

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."—Christopher Reeve

She awoke to darkness and with the feeling that she had been asleep for years. When she tried to sit up, she cracked her skull against a hard surface that must be directly above her. After the initial shock of pain receded, she felt around and began to get very scared, for she was surrounded by stone. Afraid for her air supply, she frantically tried to move the stones which trapped her. Grunting with effort, she wedged her shoulder and tried to lift with her whole body. Knowing it was useless, she lay back panting. Her arm and leg ached, but the pain seemed like nothing when she realized she may die there. Thinking back, she tried to recall how she'd gotten herself into this mess. Snapshot memories flashed through her mind, Alton and Estral, hummingbirds, beautiful mosaics and moondials. That triggered it and with a rush everything came back: MOONDIALS, LAURELYN, TAINTED SLEEPERS, and MORNHAVEN. She had thrown the mask at Yate's feet, just before the world exploded. The last thing Karigan remembered was the sound of massive wings beating the air. "Westrion", the recognition slipped from her lips without her notice. She didn't know why she was so sure, but the truth of it reverberated through her entire being. The God of Death had put her in this place.

It was odd. This didn't feel like death, but would she really know? All she had to go on were her visits with the dead, and she had never asked Lil, Fryan or the other specters how it felt to be dead. Well, if she was not dead, she was probably stuck in some in-between place. She stroked her broach for comfort, only to recall Laurelyn's words, "ability to cross thresholds".

Maybe, just maybe, she could try it…Without pausing to doubt her new plan, Karigan gripped her broach until she could feel its surface digging into her skin and focused all of her might on getting through the barrier in front of her. When she touched the surface of the stone, she was surprised she didn't feel its smooth surface, but that her hand had actually passed through and felt only chill air. Afraid it would suddenly stop working, she thrust herself up. Karigan stood, desperate to be free of her prison, only to find her eyes painfully blinded and her legs tripping over some obstacle. Stumbling out of the stone, she had to crouch to get her bearings. Short grass lay wet and smooth under her hands and she let her fingers curl around the soft blades.

When she started to breathe again, she noticed a fragrance in the air. She hadn't smelled something so sweet since she'd left the castle. Automatically alert and thinking some lady must be very near if the perfume was reaching Karigan's nose. Then she started to piece together the sounds; horse hooves against cobblestone, a young woman's laughter, and a blade hitting wood. It was outside. A public place.

She peeked open her eyes and eventually the brightness faded to reveal green leaves and thorns. The fragrance belonged not to a woman, but to a rose bush. Still crouched, Karigan surveyed her surroundings. It was a secluded grove with a perimeter of rose bushes that was only interrupted at the metal gate leading towards the noise. In the middle lay a milky white stone tablet.

Careful not to touch the thing that had trapped her, she leaned over to see the surface's shallow engraving. The markings were rustic, but she was able to make out the image of a sword, and it seemed to be intertwined with words. She couldn't read what they said; she had never seen such a language. Even though the tablet was milky white and hardly weathered, Karigan had the feeling that she was looking at something very old. Looking at the thing made her spine tingle and for a moment she wondered if it acted as a kind of gateway, such as the bridges in the white world.

Not wanting to think about it anymore, she turned away.

When Karigan found what was behind the wall of roses, she had to snort. Westrion had placed her in a graveyard. It was fitting, but she didn't know whether to feel amused or dismayed. She wondered at the god's role, but decided she probably didn't want to know.

She was relieved when she stepped into a street full of people, being surrounded by the noise and activity made her feel less connected to death. People meandered through the small market square. A woman yelled that she'd reduced the price of her wares. A man stood in front of a butchery, methodically cutting up meat. The woman and others she heard talking had distinct accents and Karigan realized she was in Rhovanny.

Her theory was confirmed by all the strange looks she was getting. In Rhovanny, women were not allowed to fight or handle swords. Just coming from Blackveil, Karigan could imagine what she now looked like. A woman walking around, blade at hip, disheveled hair and blood soaked clothes. Her arm was still bound with Eletian arrows and her leg was stiff and sore. People gaped at her and moved away to avoid her, as if they didn't want to come too close.

Karigan didn't embarrass easily, but she was tired and she just wanted to be left alone. She wished no one could see her.

Beside her, a woman gasped. Karigan was confused until she saw herself. She had accidentally faded out. But it wasn't just faded out. She was standing in broad daylight and she was completely invisible. Oh dear…

This wasn't within the normal limits of her ability. It wasn't supposed to be this strong. Now that she thought of it, her escape from the tomb was suspicious as well. In the past, she always needed assistance to perform greater magic. But in the tomb, she had been alone. Hadn't she? She never would have been able to do that on her own. Was it the god who helped her or something else?

Karigan walked along the street, remaining invisible for the time being so she could think. Ever since she'd woken up, she had felt a dark presence. Karigan had brushed it off earlier, thinking it was just the result of waking up in a grave. Now she was more concerned. Now she stood in full sunlight, amongst normal people, and that same dark presence hadn't faded. It felt similar to Shawdell's wild magic, but it had the distinct taint of Mornhaven. When she had shattered the mask, Mornhaven took the brunt of the force. She was close to him at the time. When the world exploded around them, was it possible that some of his magic had attached to her? She shuddered. The idea of being bound to that monster was terrifying.