14. Everen: Glimmerhail

Everen, freed but disgraced, moves through the weyr as an outcast. Dragons avoid or hiss at Everen; Pan, Sidar’s mate, openly seethes. He keeps his head down, hunting under Mace’s or Cassia’s watch while the weyr relies on a pooled-magic barrier that only buys warning against erratic wraith attacks.

Each rip in the Veil pulls at Everen’s magic, tempting him toward the storm between worlds, but the breaches remain too small to cross. He vents fury in battle, unsettled by the wraiths’ unreal flesh and singular hunger. Nights, Everen sleeps under open sky; below, he and Cassia scry the present, glimpsing scattered humans but never the Lumet or Citadel. Cassia records fleeting visions, growing stronger as Everen aids with context.

On Glimmerhail, the weyr feasts frugally and many shift to preterit to stretch scarce food. Everen sees how the Reek and privation have weakened the dragons, deepening his fear of a slow decline. Afterward, dragons gather at the pool beneath cleared stars; Cassia bears a chalice of scrysilver, sanctifies the rite, and shares it according to rank, then pours the remainder into the water.

The weyr hums as each dragon offers a wish for survival, but Pan breaks, roaring that no wish will return Sidar. With scrysilver heightening empathy, her grief batters all; Coral comforts her. Before leaving, Pan publicly blames Everen for the wraiths and Sidar’s death, turning the weyr’s gaze on him until Queen Naccara restores order, urging faith and resolve.

As the dragons depart in solemn silence, Miligrist submerges to read fate in the glowing pool, while the Queen and Mace withdraw at Cassia’s assurance she will watch and record. Knowing Miligrist will find no easy truth, Everen remains apart until Cassia calls him to her.