The excitement builds as the release of 

Kriki's Gift, Book Two of the Geometry of Power 

draws near.

The air was suddenly rent with an unearthly screech of outrage. The scream was immediately followed by a roaring sound akin to a wind rushing towards them. When the blast of energy reached them a vision of darkness exploded into everyone's thoughts. There was no hiding from this overwhelming sense of doom. Some men staggered against the crushing will filling their minds with madness and held their hands to their ears in an ineffectual attempt to block out the insanity being forced into their thoughts. Others became unmoving statues for they were powerless to do anything for their minds were so weighed down by the torment. Eventually, several of the men were utterly overwhelmed by the Valkea's mental assault and they lost consciousness and collapsed, falling off the wagons or from their saddles.

Carra leaned against Badger's neck, buried her face in his mane, and hid beneath her shield. Her thoughts were filled with writhing and twisted shadows of evil, things of darkness beyond the knowledge of human beings. She couldn't escape from this nightmare and wished she could faint or even die to escape this horror.

Just when she felt she couldn't take any more of the punishing assault on her senses, the madness abruptly ended and she was suddenly freed of the nightmare. It was like a door had slammed shut in her mind to keep the darkness out. She gasped for air almost as if she'd been saved from drowning by being pulled from a dark and muddy quagmire. She breathed heavily and tried her best not to even think about what had just happened to her.

"My Lady?" Haxton finally queried and he grasped her arm gently. "Are you well?" His voice was concerned, but strained as well for he was still battling the effects of the Valkea's attack on his own sanity.

She pushed up and was glad for his supportive hold for she felt dizzy and disoriented. When she turned to look at him, her attention was instead drawn to a blazing light far up on the slope.