Page 48 of Crowned By the Shadow
The pendant warmed between my palms, responding to my intent. I felt the familiar tug behind my navel as my consciousness stretched outward, searching for the connections that bound us together.
At first, there was nothing but darkness. Then, faintly, I felt them, two presences that I recognized immediately.
Stone walls. The scent of damp and decay. Flickering torchlight casting long shadows.
Van and Volker huddled in a corner of what appeared to be a cell. Van’s usually immaculate appearance was disheveled, his clothing torn and stained. Volker looked worse. There was a gash across his forehead had crusted with dried blood, and he cradled one arm against his chest as if it were injured.
“They’ll come for us,” Van was saying, his voice hoarse but determined. “Senara won’t leave us here.”
Volker’s laugh was bitter. “If they’re still alive. We’ve been here for days, and Eldric hasn’t exactly been forthcoming about their fate.”
“They’re alive,” Van insisted. “I’d know if they weren’t.”
The cell door rattled, and both men tensed. A dragonkin guard peered through a small opening.
“The master wants the musician,” the guard growled, voice distorted as if speaking through water.
Van stood, squaring his shoulders despite his obvious exhaustion. “Tell your master I’m not performing today. Throat’s sore.”
The guard’s eyes narrowed, glowing with that sickly purple light. “Not a request.”
The door swung open, and two more guards entered, roughly grabbing Van by the arms. He didn’t struggle, just shot Volker a reassuring look over his shoulder as they dragged him out.
“Don’t worry,” he called back. “The Eclipse Child comes. I can feel it in my bones.”
The vision faded, the connection severed as abruptly as it had formed. I gasped, my eyes flying open as I returned to my body. The pendant cooled in my hands, its power temporarily spent.
“Van,” I whispered, my heart racing. “Volker.”
A rustling sound drew my attention. Thorn drew closer to me, concern etched on his features.
“What did you see?” he asked quietly as he reached out and took my hand, forcing me to release the Veilshard Pendant, as though he knew I was tempted to try and connect with them again.
“They’re in the Obsidian Keep,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “Prisoners. Van seemed certain we’d come for them, but Volker... he’s badly injured, and he’s losing hope.”
Thorn’s expression hardened. “Then we go back.”
“Back?” I echoed, the memory of our narrow escape still fresh. “I’m surprised you want to considering we barely made it out alive last time.”
“We can’t leave them there,” Thorn said firmly. “Van and Volker are our allies—our friends. And we’re stronger now. You have the Moon Blades, Wyn has her new powers... Besides, I know you wouldn’t be willing to go anywhere until we rescue them.”
He was right. The thought of abandoning Van and Volker to Eldric’s mercy was unthinkable. But returning to the Obsidian Keep sent a chill down my spine.
“We need a plan,” I said, determination replacing my initial fear. “A real one this time, not just charging in and hoping for the best.”
Thorn nodded, his eyes reflecting the first rays of dawn breaking through the trees. “We should wake the others.”
As if on cue, Wyn came back over, her new twilight-touched eyes taking in entirely too much as she ran a hand through her silver-and-purple hair.
“What’s happening?” she asked, sensing the tension.
“Change of plans,” I told her. “Van and Volker are still in the Obsidian Keep. We’re going back for them.”
Wyn’s expression shifted from surprise to resolve. “Of course we are.”
“What did I miss?” Ronan asked, joining our circle.
I quickly explained what I’d seen in my vision, that Van and Volker were captives and hurt. As I spoke, I watched their faces. Thorn’s determination never wavered. Wyn’s new powers seemed to shimmer beneath her skin as her resolve strengthened. Even Ronan, who had the least connection to Van and Volker, as far as I was aware, nodded grimly.
