She placed her hands on his face as he stared at her with wide eyes.

“Um, what are you doing, Aurry?”

“Be quiet. Can you remember what Veldaren looks like from beyond the gates?”

“Yeah, but why?”

“I said close your eyes. Concentrate on that image. It’ll be hard, knowing you, but try anyway.”

Qurrah smirked as Harruq did as he was told. He remembered the great wall surrounding the city, made of stacked stones, each one taller and wider than several men. He remembered the great oak doors, lined with metal and steel. He remembered the castle proper, looming over the city with its great collection of towering spires and crenellated walls. It was an awesome sight, crafted by the hand of the dark god, Karak.

Aurelia focused on these images, lifting them from Harruq’s mind akin to a ladle drawing water from a well. She focused on the fields of grass stretching from the front entrance on either side of a worn path. Perfect. Eyes still closed, she let go of Harruq and stepped back. Words of magic slipped through her lips. The air before her ripped open into a flat, whirling blue essence.

“And there we go,” she said, opening her eyes. “Veldaren.”

She stepped through the portal and vanished. The two half-orcs glanced at one another.

“You first, my brother,” Qurrah said.

“I’d hate to leave you again. I’ll follow after.”

“Get in there, you child.”

“Fine,” Harruq grumbled. He took a deep breath, took another, and then stepped through. Qurrah followed.

Both felt the same sensation of flying over a great distance, yet to their minds they had taken a single step. The gentle hills north of Woodhaven were gone, replaced by the walls of Neldar, the city of stone.

“That was easy enough,” Harruq said. He decided not to mention his insides felt like they were doing loops.