Excerpt: Prince of Rokahn

The flames rose higher and higher, red embers floating like burning snow, caught on the wind then sent flipping and twirling in little whirlwinds until they dissolved as they touched the snow-covered ground. The dark sky above was covered with winter clouds stained a glowing red from the merciless fire.

Mike's twin sister had wrapped her arms around him, and she was sobbing into his shoulder, her whole body trembling with cold and shock and loss. He was barely conscious of her presence, frozen as he was with the horror before him. Already the fire was wild, too far along to be stopped. The roof of the house had mostly collapsed, and one wall was threatening to fall inward.

Only then did Mike stir, realizing with a terrible jolt that if the roof finished falling inward, or if the teetering wall crumbled, his parents could never come out.

He shoved his sister aside, hardly conscious of doing so, and ran toward the burning structure, screaming incomprehensible words. Before he could reach the blazing furnace, he was seized by a firm hand and forced to halt. He tried with all his might to break free, but the grip never weakened, and he was dragged backward out of harm's way.

“It's too late, Mike,” came the familiar voice of Penn. “You can't save them.”