As she suspected, Mercedes finally got word. Someone from Drakoen's circle reached out to him. They sent a message. A messenger bird came through to her window with a note. She took it from the bird with trembling hands and unfolded it to read. On the note it was written,

' Your boy is with us. If you want to see him again, you will have to do as I say. No tricks allowed. If you do anything that I didn't tell you, then you will never see your son alive again. The next ...