Yago, who was so tall he could see over Atreus's shoulder without stepping onto the dais, peered into the Pool of dreams. "Don't tell me that's a-"

"Map!" Atreus confirmed.

Yago groaned. He could see what was coming next, and were not ones to place their faith in a piece of parchment scratched with a few lizard tracks.

Atreus snatched the map from the water and started down the steps, forgetting in his excitement to bow to Julienne. "Come on, Yago," he said. "We're going to Langdarma!"

"Langdarma?" Yago grumbled. He turned to follow Atreus down the Aisle of the Adorer. "Never heard of such a place. It's probably clear up by Arabel or something."

"Or something," Atreus agreed. He glanced down at his map. "Ever hear of the Yehimals?"

The ogre shook his head, and the celebrants began to close in around them, babbling congratulations and trying to sneak a look at the map. A few of the less squeamish even slapped Atreus's disfigured back or squeezed his round shoulder. The pair soon found themselves being swept along by a jabbering swarm of well-wishers.

Once the crowd had carried them out of earshot the assistant Heartwarders turned to Julienne.

"Do you think this will work?" asked the hazel-eyed beauty.

"Of course." Julienne's smile was small and a little heartless. "The Yehimals are far, far away, and Langdarma is difficult to find… very difficult to find."

CHAPTER 2

Three days after leaving the ship, Atreus still felt the sea rolling beneath his feet. He and Yago were standing outside the Grand Audience Hall of the Paradise Mahal on a white marble floor as firm as the bedrock of the world, swaying gently as they awaited an audience with the queen of Eden-vale. In the distance behind the palace loomed the jagged white wall of the great Yehimal Mountains, where-somewhere-the Sisters of Serenity stood watch over the valley of Langdarma.