Generations ago, shifters -- many with magic powers -- were accepted throughout Emylnor. But a war with the nearby dragon nation bred concern, and though Emylnor's forces beat back the invasion, the shifters retreated into hiding.<br><br>Akton is a weasel shifter who seems to have no magical talents. When he is hunted, Talfryn joins the fight, finally able to flex his salamander flame powers. But while they make a good team, the thrill quickly wears off when they uncover recruitment orders. A shifter named Basil is building an army.<br><br>Someone has to warn Queen Ylenia before Basil can launch Emylnor into another war. When Akton and Talfryn volunteer to deliver the information to her, they have no intention of getting deeply involved with the fight -- or each other. But to stop Basil, they need to learn to trust each other completely, and fast. Or all of Emylnor will burn ...

Flame and Snow

“Ethremyln…does that have anything to do with Emylnor?”


“Again, yes,” said Shanna. She seemed either more patient or more curious this time. “Ethremylnrefers to one shifter; ethremylnarto multiple. Our nation’s name grew out of a version of ethremylnar. Once shifters were prominent among every class of people, and citizens were proud of our nation’s strength. Back when the ethremylnarwere unafraid, and many.”


“And now we hide,” said Talfryn. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it.


“They wanted us to die off, Talfryn,” said Shanna, shocking him by using his name. “First the dragons desired this, but it spread to the people. Most still want us dead.”


“There’s a lot of fear,” said Talfryn, unsure why he was defending people, but some of them were from Teorg, and one of them was Glenna. He shook his head. “But wanting us to die…”


Shanna apparently had had enough of this conversation.


Chapter 62