After telling Davin and Niam that they were clear for their plan to go up to the Vandin camp tomorrow, Maerillus flopped down on his bed, a bitter disappointment to himself and his family. Outside, a breeze caught in wind chimes, but his mind couldn’t focus on the beautiful notes. This confirmed what he had come to fear, and he clenched his fists in frustration. He wasn’t going to leave his room again until tomorrow morning. He didn’t think he could face his family tonight. Sleep was a long time coming, and when it did, the chimes took him off into the dark waters of oblivion. Eventually, the moon rose and held watch with a baleful eye over the land below.
On the other side of town, Niam awoke into a nightmare.