The breach sealed behind Lord.
Owen stood frozen, staring at the empty space where his son had been. The courtyard was silent. The battle had stopped—Valorin's followers, leaderless, had lowered their weapons. The five juvenile dragons circled overhead, their eyes fixed on the same empty space.
"He'll come back," Uru said. Her voice was steady, but her hands were trembling. "He promised."
Owen didn't respond. He couldn't. The words were stuck in his throat.
Yuki appeared at his side, her hand finding his. "He's stronger than any of us. He'll find a way."
"He went in there alone," Owen said. "Against Valorin. Against beings whose physics are fundamentally different from ours."
"He's Lord."
Owen looked at her. Her eyes were wet, but her jaw was set.
"He's our son."
---
The hours that followed were the longest of Owen's life.
