28 • RAEHERYS

A LONG, REGRETFUL SILENCE lingered on the dead chamber, like a forest night without chirping crickets, or an ocean without waves, or a chest without heartbeats. Everything was as quiet as a windless night. Perhaps his ears had gotten deaf. Perhaps his breathing had stopped. Perhaps his heart had become stone. Raeherys Alagor had never known fear more than he had ever had before.

Eventually, Larice rose to her feet, a mixed look of shock and confusion painted in her darkened face. “The … third bastion,” she said when she found her voice, “That’s where they must be heading now … If they make it to Shavath, it’ll all be over. We have to go after them.”

“I can’t, Larice,” replied Raeherys, his voice trembling, “I can’t go.”

“For god’s sake, can you just … not act stupid this time?” she said. “Our friends are in danger!”

Raeherys’ vision blurred as tears suddenly flooded his eyes. “I can’t go,” he repeated distractedly, eyes dazed unto the floor. “Fetyr is