Chapter 76: The First Lesson

Confused shapes swirled around Oliver, wobbling and churning, making him feel as though he was on the deck of a rolling ship. He winced and raised a hand to clutch his throbbing head. Slowly, the darkness that blanketed his vision faded, and the world came sliding back into focus once more.

He was lying with his back propped against the black cliff at the edge of the clearing. He was still in the Mirrorwood – and he was still alive.

Oliver tried to sit up, but fell back with a groan as a wave of dizziness swept through him. “Stop that,” said a familiar voice. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

Zarine was lying on his other side. The enormous white wolf was licking at a nasty-looking cut on her foreleg. “You’re finally awake,” she grunted without pausing.

“Z-Zarine?” Oliver croaked. He groaned softly. “What... what happened?”