Page 197 of Cast in Conflict

Bakkon veered instantly.

Emmerian did not.

Rising from the previously flat street just in front of the border itself was a giant pillar of Shadow.

Emmerian veered to the same left as Bakkon had; there were no longer any buildings to prevent this. The buildings across which the Wevaran had scuttled at speed had melted or transformed, an instant before Mandoran’s shouting, into something that was taller than any of the visible buildings in Ravellon.

This, she thought, as it solidified, gaining width as well as height, was like a Tower in shape. Bakkon was utterly silent on the inside of his own head, the whole of his attention given to maneuvering. The street he’d been following, under the wings of a silver Dragon, was gone.

Emmerian ascended, moving more quickly than Bakkon—but not by much.

Terrano says Mandoran says there’s no exit the way you were running.

Was it there before?

Unclear. Mandoran saw whatever defense was mounted a little bit before the rest of you did. He’s with Emmerian now.

With?

I believe he’s on Emmerian’s back. What he can see, Emmerian can’t see.

And without her familiar, neither could she. Not for the first time in her life, she wished that people could see the same things, could understand all languages, could communicate perfectly. That was the sole benefit of True Words as a language; the meaning of each word couldn’t be mistaken or misunderstood.

Which was probably why no one could easily speak them.

Which way? Does Terrano have any other instructions?

Silence. She could sense Severn, but couldn’t hear him ask the question she’d asked. She was too afraid of falling off Bakkon’s back to focus on the listening as Severn listened.

Mandoran says the Shadow that looks like a building to you—he’s frustrated with that, by the way—extends both left and right. He also says the rest of the Shadows in Ravellon aren’t standing still behind you. Terrano doesn’t think it’s safe for either Bellusdeo or Emmerian to land.

The outcaste does it!

He believes that proves his point.

She cursed. Bakkon was exhausted, and the exhaustion wasn’t something she could simply heal or cure. He hadn’t, and wouldn’t, stop until he couldn’t move on his own anymore. She was worried that that would be soon.

If they can’t land and we can’t even touch these...walls, what’s his suggestion?

Not certain. Terrano says wall is a good description—and the walls are spreading so that they overlap the barrier from the inside. He asks how you got in in the first place.

She started to tell him that this wasn’t the time for that, but stopped herself. It was a good question; it was a fair question. Maybe if she understood the actual answer beyond I don’t know, they’d have a better chance of surviving this.

Terrano says your best chance of escape is to continue to the left; he thinks there might be some chance the wall there could be permeable.

Why?

It’s Tiamaris, and Bellusdeo’s presence in the sky has pulled all of the Norranir out of their homes. They’re drumming.

They wouldn’t make it. And more permeable was a gamble she was almost certain would end in death.

Enslavement, Bakkon said, correcting her.

Kaylin exhaled. Tell Terrano—tell anyone who can move fast—to head to Liatt.

For the Wevaran?

She nodded. Get them to come to Candallar.

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