Dreadgod (Cradle Book 11) (8)

Lindon gave a pained smile. “Apologies, but I do wish it was that easy. The Monarchs will have the labyrinth branches under surveillance, especially now.”

“Will they? Follow that branch to Rosegold.”

Ozmanthus was tracing Lindon’s spiritual perception, so Lindon kept moving along one particular branch of the labyrinth. The trick to its transport ability was beyond Lindon’s skill, but it was simple enough to understand; conceptually, the branches of the labyrinth were all considered the same place. No matter where in the world they were.

So instead of requiring great power and authority to move across the world, it took no more than moving a mile or two. The more people you were transporting at once, the more of an advantage that was.

Lindon’s awareness flew down a branch and then skipped over to the Rosegold continent. To territory he suspected belonged to House Shen. Since his perception couldn’t stretch across continents, he could only feel vaguely around the labyrinth.

There were buildings above the labyrinth, which Lindon had expected. These would be structures like the Ancestor’s Tomb, added later to seal and control the exits. Then he sensed the places the labyrinth butted directly against the new construction, and his eyes went wide.

The labyrinth ruins weren’t sealed. The buildings above weren’t placed at the entrance, but around it. As though no one knew the ruins were connected to something greater below.

“It’s hard to be correct all the time,” Ozmanthus said. “Almost as hard as it is to be so handsome. You may praise me again.”

Dross chuckled in the back of his head as Lindon’s thoughts moved like lightning. “We can pop up in Reigan Shen’s back yard. We can rob him blind. Some of his vaults are in pocket spaces, but some of them have to be on the ground, and even if we can’t…”

He trailed off as bleaker applications occurred to him. Robbing the Monarchs was one thing, but if they really refused to advance, Lindon realized he could take hostages.

They couldn’t protect their homes from him.

Ozmanthus folded his arms and nodded. “If you can’t take over the world when you have your enemies’ weaknesses in your grip, then you’re not worthy of calling yourself my apprentice.”

In the distance, Dross laughed wildly.

Lindon’s arm trembled, but he clenched his fist. “There are dark uses for this. Darker than I’m willing to consider.”

“You don’t have to kill Golds, if you’re squeamish. You just have to make the Monarchs think you will.”

“I’m not trying to—”

Lindon was cut off by a shout from Dross. [She speaks into my mind! Her voice echoes through the worlds and the halls of the mind! Will you hear the words of the Queen of Living Dreams?]

Without his insight into Dross’ thoughts, Lindon wasn’t sure he could have unraveled that statement. But since Lindon could feel the mind-spirit’s intentions, he thought he understood.

“Emriss Silentborn is trying to contact us?”

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.