But it is possible.
Ellie wasn’t sure how, but she could feel him coming closer to her—to wherever she had been imprisoned—and then suddenly he was there, close enough that she could almost see his face. He was angry now, no fear—angry at himself.
How could I have missed that? I pulled you from your research too soon.
Taeben, are you searching for a frost dragon?
No, my dark flower, I seem to have already found one—what did your research tell you about Daelyth, Omerith’s daughter?
She is gold of scale and has been kept hidden since her birth. She was a miracle. It was not thought that any dragon other than Kaerinth herself could produce offspring anymore, so Daelyth was quite a surprise for Omerith and Andyth.
That’s lovely, but not helpful. Frost or fire, Elspethe?
Ellie steeled herself for his anger. There was no record, Taeben.
I think I liked it better when you called me A’chrya.
He was moving away. This felt like the last chance. You don’t have to leave me here, A’chrya! I can help you! Please, let me help you!
I’m listening.
I can open up the part of my mind that I keep hidden from you. I can give you access to my journals and my research. But please, please do not leave me here in this darkness alone.
I will think it over. And with that, Taeben was gone. Ellie pulled her knees up to her chest and rocked as she had done when she was a small child until she finally dozed off.
Sath paced back and forth, occasionally looking out the window or trying the door again. He looked at Gin, putting some troubling pieces together in his mind.
Wait, he told you that his daughter, the dragon that took the orb, the only offspring of a dragon in two centuries—is under someone else’s control? What of the orb?
He did not mention the orb, but I could feel his concern. The one controlling of Daelyth’s mind has to be that Ikedrian that was following us, she is in this palace somewhere, and we have to find her. Do you think she has the orb, though? Gin chewed on one of her fingernails, and after watching her for a moment, Sath looked at his own hands. “Don’t do it; not only is it a filthy habit, but once you’re back to yourself, you will rip your bottom lip off with one of your claws.” Their eyes met, and both burst into nervous laughter.
Why do you think she doesn’t have the orb? We saw Raikynth take it, but -
She was taking it to the stronghold—I assume that Omerith checked, and it isn’t there now. Sath, let me ask Omerith when he began to suspect his daughter.
Gin focused on the red dragon in the bond, only to find that he was already there.
That is a difficult question, Nature Walker. When the First Caeth took the orb from you, everything was fine. I did not know why my daughter disappeared, so I checked the stronghold as you astutely guessed, and it is not there.
You have got to stop listening in on our conversations, Omerith. I know that it is innate for your kind, but it is not for us, and -
I am sorry, but you must help me.
The only other person we can think of that might be involved, Omerith, is a dark elf that we caught following us. She tried to steal the orb from us, and we think she might be working for your mother.
You must find this Ikedrian and bring her here.
What is it with you higher beings?
Gin turned to look at Sath in surprise, and she could feel that his question had Omerith’s undivided attention. She pleaded with him to stay quiet but knew that there was little chance of that now.
What do you mean, Rajah?
I mean that you spend all your time safe and sound, either in the Void or tucked away in this grand palace, and then when you need something done—something dangerous, I might add—you come to us to do it for you. And if you’re Sephine, you incapacitate me first and then send me on my way.
Gin pointed a finger at him, but he dismissed her. Sath was clearly just about at the end of his patience.
Sath, please, be respectful.
Why? You may fear her, Gin, but I do not. The Qatu were made directly by Orana, just like the gods and the dragons. I have no reason to fear her—or them, for that matter.
Gin could feel Omerith’s anger at Sath’s impudence, but she knew there was nothing she could do to stop Sath from talking. My Lord Omerith, you must understand that Sath has not –
I think you have been squeezed into that illusion for too long, my Qatu Guardian. You need not call on Sephine for help. I have the magic to fix that for you—then perhaps we can get back to the things that matter.
A light coalesced in the middle of their bedchamber, and they could just about make out the figure of Omerith in the middle of it. He was not really there—it was a projection—but his eyes found Sath’s, and they glared at each other for a few minutes before the dragon began speaking in Eldyr. Gin moved closer to him, only to be met by a blinding white light. Gin threw her arms around Sath and clung to him. It felt like he was pulled apart from her, but all she could see was the light, coalescing into a solid form and pushing her away. Gin dug her fingers into the leather tunic that Sath wore, but to her horror, she felt him slipping away from her. “Sath!” She scrambled to get a better grip, but it felt as though he was melting under
