Karavans

From the flaps of the DAW first edition: "Alisanos - humans call it a deepwood, but it is no ordinary land. A sentient entity, Alisanos has many magical, perilous, and frightening characteristics. It is home to powerful demons with the ability to assume whatever shape they choose, and other creatures beyond human imagining. Any person unlucky enough to be taken by Alisanos is either never seen again, or permanently changed into a monstrous entity - neither true demon nor true human. Little is actually known of the deepwood's full nature, for fear keeps sensible people far away. But even the most cautious individual can be taken by Alisanos, for the most terrifying aspect of the deepwood is its ability to move - suddenly encompassing what was previously safe land. Like the fabric of nightmares made real, no one is safe even miles from its dark perimeter. The land of Sancorra has been conquered by the brutal, tribal Hecari, leaving thousands of families without homes, living in peril of their lives as the Hecari routinely decimate village after village, culling any area where they feel too many of the conquered people have congregated. Audrun and her husband Davyn, already the parents of four children, and with one more on the way, have had their farm burned. They have consulted diviners who say that their new baby must be born in Aralanda province - a land at peace that is home to Audrun's relatives. For safety's sake they must join a karavan escorting refugees from their war-ravaged land to remote but more peaceful destinations. But it is the end of the traveling season, and no karavans are headed for Aralanda. Made desperate by their time constraints, they beg to join the last karavan of the season, even though Audrun and Davyn know that to reach Aralanda they must eventually separate from the karavan, and take a road that lies far closer to the deepwood than is considered safe. But they are luckier than they can know, for their karavan is not without its own magical resources. Traveling with them is Rhuan, a guide from the mysterious race called Shoia, a magical people who can return from the dead six times before true death claims them, but whose full abilities are kept hidden from humankind. Their karavan is also gifted with the talents of a rare true diviner - Ilona, a woman who can see the future in a person's palm, without even the aid of augury bones or cards. Aided by these two magically gifted individuals, the karavan ventures along the dangerous road toward safety. But what will befall Audrun, Davyn, Rhuan, Ilona, and their fellow karavaners along this road is beyond anyone's wildest imaginings, for Alisanos is on the move, and even the earth beneath their feet cannot be trusted."