“This is how it’s going down,” Jayden whispered. “We’ll snuff the druk, creep up on them, then Mojag will uncover the druk right before Shyla and I jump the Arch Deacons. Mojag, you can distract them while we fight. Got it?” he asked.

She nodded. It was a solid plan. Yet it annoyed her he’d taken charge. And it annoyed her that she was being petty about it.

“Good. Mojag, you go first. When we get close, open the druk and dodge to the other side of the tunnel.”

Mojag stood next to the wall with the druk. Jayden was right behind him and Shyla last. Jayden put his left hand on the boy’s shoulder and his other on the wall. Mimicking Jayden, Shyla clasped his shoulder and placed her fingertips on the cold stone. This way they had contact with each other and hopefully wouldn’t stumble in the complete darkness. A nervous tremble traveled through her legs at the thought of being in the dark.

“Now,” Jayden said.

Mojag snuffed the light. She gripped Jayden’s shoulder. Hard. Her fingernails dug into his flesh.

“What’s wrong?” he hissed.

“I can’t see.” The panic in her voice was unmistakable.

“Hold up, Mojag.” He pried her hand off his shoulder. His boots scuffed on the floor. “That’s the point. What’s really wrong?”

“I’m…very uncomfortable being in the dark.”

“And you’re just figuring this out now?” Jayden’s tone was incredulous.

“I haven’t been in the dark before now.” In fact, the thought of being in the dark scared her more than fighting Arch Deacons.

“Don’t you sleep?”

She really didn’t want to have this conversation now, but Jayden needed to know. “I always have a druk on low when I sleep. I can’t…ever since I was locked in the dark for twelve sun jumps, I can’t…I don’t…I avoid being in the dark.”

“So our fearless leader is afraid of the dark? Heck of a time to tell us.”

She’d never claimed to be fearless. In fact, her fears increased with all her new responsibilities. “Can we talk about it later?” she snapped. “I don’t know how long I can…tolerate it.”

“How about a quick magic lesson?”

“What? Now?”

“Yes. Your magic can sense others nearby. It’s a handy skill and helps us avoid encountering people. It’s similar to gathering your will and directing it at a person. Instead, you send it out in a wide arc to seek. And if anyone’s within five or six meters, you’ll know. Not who they are or what they’re doing, but you do get a vague sense if they’re coming toward you or heading away.”

“That is handy.” She thought about it. “How does this help me now?”

“You can use that to see me and Mojag. You won’t truly be blind.”

“Oh.”