The leaves rustle at our feet as we all stop, suddenly. A cool breeze raises goosebumps on my whole body as we all tilt our heads high to look at the earthen gateway before us.

This has to be it.

“What now?”, Lyran asks. “How do we open it?”

I sheathe my sword and walk toward the door, stopping only a foot away. I whisper the ancient creed, the words my mother sung to me so many nights. I’m hop...