The Healer pressed magic into the crystal. Light returned to its center.
A bone cracked through the hall. My breath followed, close to the crystal and ragged.
"Kaelen. The ward is broken. Rogues. Please, I need help."
A chime answered me.
"MESSAGE REJECTED."
The second recording carried more wind. "They're circling. My leg. Kaelen, answer me!"
A wolf snarled. Flesh tore, my scream stopped, and the same chime sounded.
"MESSAGE REJECTED."
The Healer played the third call, then the fourth and fifth. Ribs broke. My fingers scraped over frozen rock as I tried to drag myself away.
Farther up the ravine, the avalanche began to roar. Each time my voice became weaker, and every call ended with the same rejection.
There were ninety-nine calls across two hours. The Healer stopped announcing
