ALISSA
"Neither am I," said Alissa. She had paid a huge sum to a daring driver to get her through the Barrens. She hung out the window of the fast-moving carriage and pointed the ring so that the driver could follow the teal light all the way to True's castle.
"Where is he?"
Marlik pointed across the huge, dark foyer to a cobwebbed staircase.
"Do you ever clean?" she asked, noting the dirt and dust.
"No," said Marlik. "An' I don't cook, neither." He gave Alissa one last look, shook his head, and walked through a set of double doors at the other end of the foyer. Alissa looked up the stairs. Her heart beat frantically and sweat beaded her palms. She hadn't been nervous…not until this moment.
Knowing there wasn't much time, she hurried up the stairs. A long, shadowed hallway stretched before her. There were several doors, but she saw a flicker of light beckon from the far end. She followed the light until she reached the door from which it had escaped.
