on the far side of the stoneworks, the mountains opened up suddenly upon a vista of green fields, blue sky, and snowcapped mountains that took her breath away. the vale bathed in the morning light a tranquil land of rich black soil, wide slow - moving rivers, and hundreds of small lakes that shone like mirrors in the sun, protected on all sides by its sheltering peaks. looming over them all was the jagged peak called the giant's lance, a mountain that even mountains looked up to, its head lost in icy mists three and a half miles above the valley floor. over its massive western shoulder flowed the ghost torrent of alyssa's tears. even from this distance, she could make out the shining silver thread, bright against the dark stone