The Drowned Gods, #2
Stranger Skies
by Pascale Lacelle
Contents
Chapter 26: Emory
Overview
Emory and Virgil process recent betrayals, and Vera reveals she and Emory are cousins through Adriana Kazan. A ley line amplifies Aspen’s scrying, pulling Emory into a liminal realm where the entity wearing Keiran tempts and warns her.
Emory awakens to an immediate threat as a winged beast attacks, escalating dangers in the Wastes.
Summary
At dawn in the Wastes, Emory wakes from a nightmare to Virgil’s concern. They grieve Lizaveta and condemn the possessed Keiran, while Virgil confirms Collapsing isn’t a curse and that Baz, now empowered, is managing. Aspen rises healed; her first scrying attempt falters, and Vera produces Adriana’s compass to guide them.
On the march, Vera reveals Adriana Kazan was her aunt, making Vera and Emory cousins. The group hits a ley line; Aspen insists on scrying there despite Romie’s fears. Emory feels an overwhelming pull to Aspen’s magic and briefly co-scryes another body—a golden-mail guard hearing a beast—before the ley energy overruns her.
Emory blacks out into a liminal pocket beneath the sleepscape and confronts the entity wearing Keiran’s face. It disdains the umbrae, senses Emory freeing them, tempts her with the scope of her power, and taunts that she doesn’t know what being Tidecaller means. It warns her to run.
Emory is shoved back to waking as Virgil yells. A shriek splits the sky, and a great winged beast dives on the group, talons outstretched.
Who Appears
- EmoryProtagonist; co-scryed on a ley line, confronted the entity in Keiran in a liminal realm, and narrowly awakens to attack.
- VirgilGrieves Lizaveta, confirms Collapsing isn’t a curse, supports Emory, and warns her as the winged beast descends.
- AspenRecently revived; attempts scrying, first falters, then on a ley line inadvertently pulls Emory into her vision.
- VeraReveals Adriana Kazan was her aunt, making her Emory’s cousin; uses Adriana’s compass to guide the group.
- RomieWary after past ley-line fallout; tries to curb Aspen’s scrying but relents as events escalate.
- NishaPresent with the group, close to Romie; observes as tensions and revelations unfold.
- Entity wearing KeiranNon-umbra being inhabiting Keiran; tempts Emory, belittles umbrae, hints at her Tidecaller power, and warns her to run.
- Winged beastMassive aerial predator that descends on the group at chapter’s end.