Chapter 7

Dawn arrived too early.

I woke to Lyra shaking my shoulder, Her face looked a little sorry and a little amused.

"Maya's waiting," she said. "And trust me, you don't want to keep her waiting."

My body protested as I sat up. Yesterday's training with Kael had left me sore in places I didn't know could hurt. And that had been the gentle introduction.

“Here.” Lyra handed me a cup of the bitter medicine. “Drink. You’ll need it.”

I downed it without arguing, wincing at the taste.

"How bad is she?" I asked as I pulled on the clothes Lyra had found for me—worn pants, a simple shirt, boots that were slightly too big.

“Maya?” Lyra thought for a second. “She’s intense. Fair, though. She won’t push you beyond what you can handle. She’ll push you right to the edge and keep going until you get better.”

"That's supposed to be reassuring?"

"No. That's supposed to be honest." She handed me a piece of bread and dried meat. "Eat while you walk. And Selene?"

I paused at the entrance to the shelter.

"Don