Malja took a few steps, and each time she sunk to her calf in the cold powder. No winds and few sounds. Those she did hear dulled in the snow.“We missed the first snowfall,” Stray said. Then he clenched his stomach, bent over, and threw up. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to those portals.”Malja brought out Viper as a precaution. “Do you know where we are?” Her voice sounded loud in the still night.Stray surveyed the area. “Dovell, most certainly. The black bark boon tree mostly grows in Dovell.”“Can you be any more specific than an entire country?”In three large strides, he moved to the nearest tree — a tall one that poked straight up like a black-painted sword. Though winter had started, the trees all held to their leaves. Malja wondered if leaves fell for the winter on all worlds or if some kept them all the time.Stray climbed up the tree with plenty of grunts and heavy exhalations. A few times he swore and spat into the distance. He was in prime shape for fighting, but climbing like an animal used muscles he had not fully developed.With her head tilted back to watch Stray, Malja put her hand on Tommy’s shoulder.
