Chapter 14Fifteen men and women, includingAstrid, joined me in the center of the room. When I signaled ready,alow whiz of a noise flowed through the chamber. The world turnedblack for a moment then we found ourselves in a sunny field. Thewindblew some type of Sandeling dust at us; large, puffy grains thatfloated gracefully through the air. To our right the forest stood.Large brown trunks partially obscured by the dark green of theleaveson the drooping branches. Nothing human or alien moved north orsouthof us. In the distance I saw the faint black outline of the castle.Iwaved my arms toward the trees.
“Let’s go.”
The squad ran over and we tookpositions behind the trees. I didn’t know what type of goggles theyhad at the castle, but I didn’t want us spotted by the defenders.The cousin of an
