The Drowned Gods, #2
Stranger Skies
by Pascale Lacelle
Contents
Chapter 51: Emory
Overview
Emory leaves camp to confront the Shadow alone, fearing her unstable magic could endanger the keys at the next door. Vera chooses trust over restraint, lending Emory a compass so they can reunite at Sunforge. Emory reopens dream contact via Romie, marking a strategic split from the group.
Summary
Emory wakes beneath desert stars, shaken by a nightmare of corpses, lunar flowers, keys turning to ash, and an umbra claiming a familiar Dreamer. Determined to confront the darkness within and regain control of her magic, she decides to seek the Shadow directly.
Slipping from camp with provisions, Emory avoids waking her friends, the dragon, and the patrolling Ivayne and Vivyan. Vera quietly intercepts her, noting the group will be angry because they need Emory to open the next door near Sunforge.
Emory explains she can’t risk approaching a likely ley-line door until her unstable magic is under control, fearing she’ll harm the keys again. Instead of stopping her, Vera wordlessly chooses trust: she lends Emory the compass-watch so they can reunite at Sunforge.
Guilt softens Emory’s distance toward her cousin; she apologizes and promises to give Vera a real chance when she returns. As she departs, Emory asks Vera to tell Romie she can reach Emory in dreams, ensuring the group can contact her while she hunts the Shadow.
Who Appears
- EmoryProtagonist; leaves camp to confront the Shadow and stabilize dangerous magic; apologizes and arranges dream contact.
- VeraEmory’s cousin; intercepts her, warns of group’s needs, then supports her by lending the compass-watch to reunite at Sunforge.
- IvayneOn perimeter watch; unknowingly patrolled as Emory slipped away from camp.
- VivyanOn perimeter watch alongside Ivayne; present as Emory evades notice.