Moon power

It reached down and took white snow into its hands, which were bandaged in shadow like the rest of it, and exhaled until the water melted. Its breath hung, a cloudy mist in the air, and the snow became a gleaming pool that reflected more starlight than it should have. It drained the water into a canteen, which it passed to her, and Aina understood. The water carried the Spirit’s breath, a rare gift that would save him.
But the expulsion of power caused the Spirit to collapse into the snow. Its fingers splayed there. She could see how it stooped, bent-backed, weakened, and wondered just how much of a god’s power was required to drag her back through death’s gates. So, too, was the moon gone, and she knew the Spirit was always strongest when the moon rode high. “What’s wrong?” she asked.


Prologue, Page 4