The Time of Tempests was a long, catastrophic period of storms unlike the continent of Caelira had ever seen up to that point. Records from that time are sparse, but it was estimated to have lasted nearly ten years. When it ended, none of the original magic users were believed to still be alive.

—An Examination of the Original Magics

20

It was another two days before Kiran made contact with Etel, and by then what little hope he had managed to scrounge up had been ground into dust. It took the rest of that day for them to arrange to smuggle him back into the city that night through the same route he had gone out.

He packed up all the new magic they had collected, and tried not to fall apart at the idea of stepping into the river without Aurora in his arms. When he arrived at the dock, it was not only Zephyr and Raquim waiting for him, but the rest of his crew too, excepting Jinx.

He had rehearsed in his mind what he would say during the journey through the river; he had thought out all the facts, all the most immediate problems. But as soon as his eyes fell on Duke, everything in him started sliding out of place.

“I lost her,” he croaked, a sob wrenching in his throat. “She was there and then she was gone. How could I have lost her?”

His friends were by his side in a moment, pulling the heavy weight of the satchel off his shoulders and steadying him with hands on his arms and shoulders and everywhere. River water still poured from his drenched clothes, and his limbs shook forcefully from the cold.

“Slow down, mate,” Ransom said.

Duke was in front of him, his face stark and worried. “Take a deep breath, and start at the beginning, my boy.”

Kiran told them everything. None of it came out in the ordered, logical way he had planned during his journey. Instead, it was a jumble of memories and emotions and guesses and fears pinned together in no sensible order.

When he finished they all stared at him, not one of them moving to speak.

“Well?” he demanded. “I came for your help. I looked everywhere I could think of, but I could not find her. I need more bodies to help me search, unless you have any other suggestions.”

It was Zephyr who finally broke the silence on their side. “Kiran, there is something you should know. There was an incident in the remnant camps a few days ago. A large number of on-duty soldiers were killed.”

Kiran waved a hand. “Yes, yes, I know. I arrived the morning the bodies were discovered. It was because of them I had to wait so long to make contact with Etel. We cannot afford to waste any more time.”

“The attack was committed by the Stormlord,” Zephyr continued.

“I said I know.”