Lucien sent a message to the ancient beasts at once.
[Brothers. Sisters. I need you in Sareth. You heard the shriek, right? The Devourer is here, and Lootwell does not have enough force to put it down cleanly.]
The reply came almost immediately.
It was Astraea.
Her voice carried across the Concord Pact link.
[Little brother, the timing cuts poorly. We are in battle.]
A pause.
[The node we entered was deeper than expected. The settlement was bait on the surface and fortress beneath. There are dozens of Eternals here, all under the miracle drugs and pushed beyond sane limits.]
Then Condoriano answered. Laughter rolled behind his words.
[Buy us time, little brother. Just a little. We have already broken their first line. We only need to kill a few more and I will come gladly. I have wanted to test my wings against that shrieking abomination for some time.]
Lucien's expression darkened.
[Understood. I'll wait.]
The connection dimmed.
He looked up at the sky again.
