Chapter 70 — Isla

In Cronan’s prison, Isla watches a healing Lark sleep, the stolen feather clutched tight. A dark cloud brings a brief surge of power, reminding Isla the shademade bars remain under Cronan’s control, so escape is impossible. Instead, she considers using Nightshade gifts learned under Cronan’s torture to reach Lark’s mind.

As the storm wanes, Isla carefully extends shadow into Lark’s dreaming thoughts, rifling recent memories from Nightshade. She locates the moment tied to the hidden portaling device and starstick, and extracts the location before her power ebbs, accepting the moral cost for the greater need.

Isla then contacts Oro, who is already at Nightshade with Astria’s help despite the council’s displeasure. Exhausted but steady, Oro assumes she succeeded. Isla confirms she has the location and senses the mutual secrecy each keeps to protect the other.

When Oro asks about Grim, Isla admits her attempts to reach her husband are failing and wonders if their past love was only circumstance. Oro counters with quiet conviction, insisting Isla is loved on purpose and urging her to persist.

The conversation turns to “Find your fire,” a phrase Isla heard at a low point and Oro recalls from his mother. Oro acknowledges he found his fire and was burned by it, yet says it was worth it. His faith anchors Isla, renewing her determination to keep trying for Grim while acting on the starstick lead.