Aysling's head felt unbearably heavy and aching, with nausea threatening to empty the contents of her uneasy stomach.

Fleeting and painful memories assaulted her mind.

Azura’s egg had fallen through that vortex of magic, and she had followed it to... where was she now?

She opened her eyes, greeted only by darkness. She lay on a hard surface, turned to one side, facing what appeared to be a wall made of animal hides.

She was about to get up to explore her surroundings when the sound of stealthy footsteps and murmured voices approaching put her on alert.

She tensed as rough, calloused hands began touching her legs, sliding crudely up her thighs.

She was wearing some kind of dress, which the man started lifting to reach her intimate area.

“Did you think you could escape me?” the raspy voice of a man whispered near her ear, his foul breath brushing against her neck as Aysling pretended to remain unconscious.

She didn’t know exactly what kind of situation this was, but one thing was certain