The Drowned Gods, #2
Stranger Skies
by Pascale Lacelle
Contents
Chapter 45: Baz
Overview
Baz and Kai sneak into the Decrescens library to research ley lines as a way home, finding evidence tied to a spiral. They catch Clover exiting the Vault; he reveals sanctioned access yet claims the wards conceal a hidden door he needs the games to unveil. Clover admits he is a Tidecaller and suspects they are time travelers. The nighttime librarian is revealed as Luce Meraude—Adriana Kazan—Emory’s mother, also displaced in time; the group retreats to a secret room to speak openly.
Summary
After curfew, Baz and Kai slip into the Decrescens library, driven by Baz’s belief that mapping the spiral ley line might reveal another time rift back to their era. In the Unraveler stacks they find a promising text, The Sacred Spiral of Rebirth, reinforcing their theory that Dovermere sits at the spiral’s powerful inner coil.
At the Vault archway, they intercept Cornus Clover emerging freely past the busts. Pressed by Kai, Clover confesses he belongs to a select student group with sanctioned Vault access. Despite that privilege, he says the wards obscure something from everyone—the true target of his efforts: a hidden door he believes only breaking the wards can reveal.
Baz and Kai infer a secret society, possibly the Selenic Order, but Clover remains silence bound. Seeking mutual trust, Clover offers truth for truth: he is a Tidecaller and has deduced they are from the future. He hints they are not the first time travelers he has met, having overheard their search for portals.
Footsteps approach; Clover assures them the librarian is an ally. The “librarian” appears—and she is the Dreamer Baz mistook for Emory. She introduces herself as Luce Meraude. Kai bluntly asks if her real name is Adriana Kazan. Luce confirms privately that she is time-displaced from 181 years ahead and has recently given birth to her daughter in the future.
Recognizing her as Emory’s mother, Baz reveals Emory is nineteen in their time. Luce anxiously asks about Emory’s supposed Healer magic; Baz answers carefully, implying more lies beneath. To avoid discovery, the four slip behind a painting into the hidden ballroom, where Kai demands full disclosure as their clandestine parley begins.
Who Appears
- BazProtagonist; sneaks into the library to research ley lines and time rifts; confronts Clover; recognizes Luce as Emory’s mother.
- KaiAllied Nightmare Weaver; pushes Clover to confess; identifies Clover as a Tidecaller; bluntly confirms Luce’s true identity.
- Cornus CloverTidecaller with sanctioned Vault access; reveals wards hide a secret door; silence bound, likely tied to a secret society.
- Luce Meraude (Adriana Kazan)Dreamer serving as nighttime librarian; revealed as Emory’s time-displaced mother, newly postpartum in her origin time.