With hope failing along with the light, her aching body told her she needed a break. She had fleetrun for hours, searching south of the river, east and west, and found nothing. The land had closed over Mikey’s presence. One possibility remained and the thought of it filled her with dread: had Riadan somehow reached Ilkyrie—with Mikey—and taken over the citadel as a bargaining tool? She ignored the aches and exhaustion and called the remaining sunlight.
Over the main pass into Ilkyrie, she observed a campfire with guards strategically posted nearby. Whose patrols were they: citadel or Riadan’s men? The balcony doors of Mikey’s tower were closed, but the white light of lumen shone forth. She landed beyond the radiant circle and saw Kael pacing the room, seemingly alone. She tapped on the gl
