That was impressive, though he supposed a Monarch was capable of it. The Everwood continent she ruled was a long way from Ashwind, and sending a technique that far took as much power as skill. Lindon supposed the labyrinth was blocking her out, but Dross had received the message through his connection to the outside world.
[Not us,] Dross whispered. [Everyone.]
Lindon was stunned for a second. Even Ozmanthus gave a low whistle.
“What is she saying?” Lindon asked at last.
A woman’s voice that Lindon recognized as Emriss Silentborn’s echoed in their minds, transmitted directly to them by Dross. They heard her continue mid-sentence: “…emergency. The Silent King is free. I request assistance from anyone capable of reaching Everwood and doing battle with a Dreadgod.”
Immediately, Lindon began tracing the route through the labyrinth to the Everwood continent. He wasn’t sure exactly where the Silent King was, but there were a few paths that would take him into Emriss’ territory.
“The Silent King’s body is in hiding,” Emriss continued, “but his drones lay siege to Stargarden, half the Raining Lands, and Dreadnought City. I cannot hold much longer. If you are hearing this message, you are capable of fighting the Dreadgods, and I beg you for your assistance.”
“Call Yerin,” Lindon instructed Dross. If she heard this message too, she’d likely be on her way already, but she might not be able to sense him from outside the labyrinth.
“We must all work together. For the first time since the Dread War, all four Dreadgods have been awakened. The Silent King is somewhere in central Everwood. The Bleeding Phoenix flies east through the Trackless Sea, approaching the Sunken Fleet. The Wandering Titan enters the southern jungles of the Ashwind continent, and the Weeping Dragon was last reported on its way to Ninecloud City.
“If you can fight, fight. If you cannot, then help the people flee. This is an unprecedented emergency. Rally your Golds, put aside petty grievances, and work to save us all.”
By the end of the sentence, Yerin was strolling into the labyrinth far overhead, and Lindon instantly commanded the rooms to bring her closer.
“She’ll want to head to the Bleeding Phoenix.” Lindon tracked the branches of the labyrinth that stretched off to the north, all the way to the Trackless Sea. Most of them were underwater, though a few had ways of making it to the surface without drowning.
And Yerin couldn’t drown anyway, could she? He could put her closer to the Phoenix that way. But she wouldn’t want to be too close. He still didn’t know how much influence the Dreadgod might have over her.
Lindon intended to head after the Wandering Titan. It was on their continent, after all, and even if it was drifting south, it would likely march for a larger population center soon. He’d fought the Titan before, even if it had been suppressed, so Dross’ predictions should be accurate.
[Carry us to the Silent King!] Dross cried.
Lindon was startled. He knew the least about the Silent King of all the Dreadgods, but perhaps that was a good reason to face him down now.
“Don’t underestimate the tiger,” Ozmanthus said idly. “The King is the most insidious of the four, and he tends to know more than you think.”
Lindon didn’t like the idea that this Dreadgod was self-aware. When they had driven the Titan off before, it was only because the Dreadgod was sleepy, simpleminded, and suppressed. And even that had permanently injured Dross.
“We can go to Everwood,” Lindon allowed. “We need more information on the Silent King, and it sounds like the situation there is urgent.”
[Yeeessss,] Dross hissed. [Give me his sweet, sweet dream madra.]
So that was what Dross was after. Lindon had suspected as much.
He only hoped they weren’t feeding themselves to a monster.
2
Kerani shifted her goggles from her eyes to her forehead and leaned back from the engine. Fire-aspect Remnants burned inside the metallic chamber that was bigger than her entire house; she could see the spirits through the viewports, pursuing their strange Remnant tasks.
Even with heat-dampening scripts, it was a sauna in here. Though not nearly as relaxing as the actual sauna she visited on her occasional holidays.
Without her goggles, she could get an unfiltered look at the engine’s control panel. It seemed fine. She’d welded two metal plates together, and the control script was whole again. She gave it a long eye, making sure the light stayed steady.
When she was certain that the script was functional, she sighed in relief and gathered up her tools. Her personal bound spirit was contained in a tank on her back. Burning Swan was a natural fire spirit she’d raised for years, and she could channel his energies for welding or—theoretically—for combat.