“Kayla’s not coming!!” Collin said, pounding his fist into his open palm. “We’ve waited long enough for her to come. We need to act now!”

The nine Outcasts huddled behind the roaring spray of the Nosebleed, a magnificent waterfall cascading out of a cliffside resembling a nostril. Nighttime has descended long ago, casting an eerie glow over the secret gathering.

“We can’t just start a mission without consulting her first,” Arianna argued. “She’s got the deepest connection to Ezra out of all of us, and she knows all about the ancient prophecies.”

“Right,” Sam agreed, “and the Shadow Prophecy is beginning right under our noses. While we wait in this cover of darkness, armies of Onkrons are amassing across the planet. Infiltrating each village and swaying the crowds against us. No one will touch the Jewel because they don’t deem Kayla trustworthy.”

“That’s not true!” Aidan pointed a gloved finger at Sam. “No one will touch the Jewel out of their own beliefs. Though they blame Kayla, no one can deny she’s done nothing but implore her people to touch it.”

Arianna sidled up next to her husband. “And the Jewel of Laridal is spreading. It’s infiltrating every village as well. Some are harder to reach than others, but we have allies everywhere.”

“Hey!!” Esther yelled, motioning for silence and getting it. Her high position in Governor Gusteau’s armed her with authority amongst the Outcasts. “Listen to you, all!! Bickering like we don’t have the Jewel of Laridal flowing through our veins. Ezra may not be here physically, but he’s here with us.” She slammed her fist into her open palm as if pounding a nail. “He did not leave us alone, and our goal is not to prevent this war Gusteau is starting. It’s to help Ezra end the war Lucius started. Kayla may have exiled all of us down here, but he used her. This is about Nev, and this has always been about Nev.”

She turned around and stared hard at each one of them. Dalia admired her enthusiasm and tenacity. “Now,” Esther continued more calmly, “let’s stay more focused to the task at hand.” She motioned towards Sam. “Sam, repeat what you found in Gusteau’s journal.”

Sam cleared his throat, glancing around uncomfortably. He always hated being in the spotlight. “Gusteau has been reading the ancient prophecies. He’s obsessed with one called the Shadow Prophecy, the one about the dragon destined to destroy Rarogan. He had some glyphs written down on one page, glyphs I’d never seen the likes of before.”

Sam withdrew a folded piece of paper from his pocket and passed it to Esther. She unfolded it and displayed the runes to the rest of the group. Everyone murmured among themselves, debating what the runes could mean.

Travis shifted his shoulder, leaning against the cliffside in an effort to avoid getting wet. “And your 3,2 code, Esther, means Gusteau is sending out three agents to sector two, correct?”

Esther nodded. “But the sectors are vast, so we could walk right by them and not notice them.”

“No, we won’t.”

All heads turned towards the cavern stretching into the cliff. Kayla emerged from the shadows, her sword in one hand and her brother’s sword in the other. Steely resolve was written all on her face.

The Outcasts high-fived together. “She’s back!”

She motioned with one sword towards the runes Esther held. “That’s the language of Nev, and those are coordinates. If I know my geography, it leads to a lake in sector two.” Kayla pointed at Dalia, Travis, Collin, Artemis, and Sam. “You five, travel throughout the villages and warn of the impending prophecy. The rest of you will accompany me to find out what these agents are up to.”

Dalia whipped her bow off her shoulder, smiling. “Then what are we waiting for? Show us the battle.”