Chapter 1

The sunlight erupted from the day-star Yinna, striking down from behind a passing cloud, and the fox-man pulled his dark hood further down his muzzle. Maxan had been leaning against this wall for nearly an hour, watching the activity in the square, waiting for his mark to show himself among the crowds that gathered. He scanned the endless lines of potentially afflicted Leorans shuffling their feet toward their daily food ration. He reached in his pocket for the apple . . .