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  He and Arron are as bad as nursemaids sometimes. She gave the warrior a fond smile and patted his hand. “Aye, ’tis good to be back among friends. I won’t tarry much longer. Good night.”

  The commander went off to turn in for the night. Arron had disappeared a while ago, as had Malek. She knew not where her brother had gone, but the exhausted mage, after shoveling enough food into his gullet to satisfy a hibernating bear, had claimed exhaustion and wandered off to find some much-needed rest. Her other companions she had not seen for a time, either.

  Surprised to find her tankard not yet empty, she finished it with a hearty swallow and got to her feet. Her muscles ached from sitting in one position too long, as well as the lack of sleep and general overexertion in the Gray Lands. She decided the time had come to find her own bedroll and hoped to catch a few hours of peaceful sleep, free of the disturbing dreams that had been plaguing her recently.

  As she stepped into the cool darkness away from the warmth and glow of the fire, she looked up to the heavens. The stars gleamed overhead like bright jewels in the night sky. They reminded her of the beguiling eyes of a goddess, one who had picked her to act as her Chosen.

  Are you watching over me right now? She knew she would soon lead her dearest friends into the jaws of the Abyss on a quest of madness and desperation. Likely, none of them would survive. Somewhere along the way, she had come to accept the road that lay before her. I’ll need your good fortune and blessing for this quest, Sabyl, more than ever before.

  No answer was forthcoming from the vastness of the heavens, but she was prepared for that. They would be leaving in just over a day’s time, which meant she had a short time of peace before that.

  The pull of fate and machinations of the gods will have to continue another day without me. Nera the Chosen would continue on, but for now, Nera the Rogue would enjoy her final, well-earned reprieve from the burden of duty, for she understood she could never go back to that old life.

  Naught to do now but make the best of the fate I’ve been dealt, she decided.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for taking the time to read my book! If you have a spare moment, please take the time to leave a review and spread the word to your friends. Reviews and word of mouth are really important for independent authors to find an audience. I invite you to visit my website for news about future stories and to leave a comment there if you like.

  Want to find out what happens next? Sign up for my spam-free newsletter and receive new release email alerts so you will be the first to know when my next book comes out.

  The adventure concludes in Nexus of the Planes Book 3: Dawnbringer!

  Also by Gregory Mattix

  Nexus of the Planes

  The Twilight City

  Doors of the Dark

  Dawnbringer

  Extensis Vitae

  Extensis Vitae

  Extensis Vitae: The Shattered Land

  Extensis Vitae: City of Sarx

  Extensis Vitae: Empire of Dust

  Extensis Vitae: The Complete Series

  Obsolescence

  Seren1ty

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank everyone that made this book possible. First, I’d like to thank my awesome beta readers: my brother, Tim, for all the time spent reading drafts, finding typos, and providing helpful feedback; also to Chris for reading drafts, giving feedback, and helping me brainstorm ideas for the series. Also, I’d like to thank Mona and Mom and Dad for all the help and support along the way.

  Thanks again to all my readers for taking a chance on an independent author.

  About the Author

  Gregory Mattix grew up in the blazing heat of the Arizona desert. He obtained a degree in Business Administration at the University of Arizona, served in the military, and lived overseas for a time. He currently lives in Colorado with his wife and works his day job in the sprawling government machine that aims to keep America safe. He daydreams that one day he can quit the day job and write full time. He is the author of the Extensis Vitae and Nexus of the Planes series.