Chapter One

Allowing his horse to choose its own path among the trees, Beltai sat easy in the saddle, the reins held loosely in his calloused fingers. From the corner of his eye, he watched Li-shan, riding beside him. The expression on her face registered such wonder and delight that it served to heighten his own pleasure of their surroundings.

He was glad that he had this opportunity to spend time alone with his daughter. Since winter had loosed its hold upon the land, the clan had been on the move. An