"Ah. This is horrible."
Elion's voice echoed from deep inside the passage with an excitement that did not match the sentence.
Kael closed his eyes for a second.
"She sounds happy."
Sylphie, seated beside him, was still holding his hand.
"She sounds like your mother."
"That explains it, but it does not help."
Amelia stood up, notebook open again. Irelia was near her, watching both sides of the corridor. Umbra remained leaning against the wall, but her attention was somewhere else. Her own shadow seemed denser, as if something inside it were moving slowly.
Kael looked at Umbra.
"Any bad news?"
"Yes."
"I should stop asking."
"You should."
She turned her face toward the cellar.
"The second shadow stopped."
Amelia raised her head.
"Stopped where?"
"Near the lower cellars."
Irelia frowned.
"Is that good or bad?"
Umbra stayed quiet for a second.
"Bad."
Kael began to stand.
Sylphie pulled him back by the wrist.
"Seated."
"Umbra just said bad."
