Episode 5.3 - Silverton

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Road of Shadows, S5E3 – "Silverton"

Host: Mark R. Healy
Premiere Date: June 2, 2026
Main Cast: Daniel, Amber, Becca, Dragisa, Rivus, Roderick
Theme:
In this suspenseful episode set in 1984, Daniel Knox and Amber continue their hunt for the enigmatic and deadly 'Shadows'—creatures hiding in plain sight, only perceivable in their true form by Daniel. Seeking refuge in the remote mountain town of Silverton, Daniel and Amber unravel cryptic happenings, clues about the Shadows' hierarchy, and the sinister secrets hidden beneath the town's tranquil surface. A new adversary among the Shadows emerges, and the duo’s psychic abilities draw them closer to the truth and into greater peril.

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Episode Overview

This episode chronicles Daniel and Amber’s investigation in Silverton. Following clues from Amber's visions, they explore both the exterior and the ominous interior of Dragisa’s house—a high-ranking Shadow whose sudden absence only deepens the mystery. The interplay between Amber's psychic gifts, the evidence unearthed in Silverton, and Shadow politics—revealed through a clandestine meeting—sets up a dangerous new phase in their struggle.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Morning Tension in Silverton

• Daniel and Amber prepare for the day, feeling unease about the seemingly peaceful town.
  • Amber: "Silverton seems peaceful at this time of morning, doesn’t it?" (02:33)
  • Daniel: "Don’t let that fool you. We both know what’s out there waiting for us." (02:41)
• Awkward exchange with Becca, the motel owner, hints at local secrecy and potential danger for outsiders.
  • Becca: "Just be careful, though, all right? You really need to pay attention to where you’re going, otherwise you’ll find yourself lost in no time." (03:29)
  • Amber: "Did she seem like she was acting strange to you?" (03:55)

2. Investigation at Dragisa’s House

• Amber’s visions direct them to Dragisa’s house, aligning eerily with her psychic impressions.
  • Amber: "This is the place. Exactly as I saw it in my vision. Right down to the picket fence and the color of the damn mailbox." (04:08)
• The house is seemingly normal but feels unnervingly off; entering the kitchen, they discover a massive, deliberate collapse—rubble and a destroyed den beneath.
  • Daniel: "What the hell happened here? Looks like a bomb went off." (07:01)
  • Amber: "I've never seen anything like it. This is nothing like the vision." (07:30)

Key Theory

• They deduce that Dragisa, sensing their approach and Amber’s visions, destroyed her own den to hide evidence.
  • Daniel: "She’s scared of us. That has to be it." (08:25)
  • Amber: "But a shadow’s den is sacred… She must have had a damn good reason." (09:12)

3. Amber’s Psychic Vision

• Touching the soil, Amber is overwhelmed by a new vision:
  • She sees a trail in the woods, a waterfall, a cliff, and senses something dark higher up on Mount Sunder before the vision ends in a (psychic) avalanche.
  • Amber: "There’s something here. Something dark and ancient, but I can’t quite see. Oh, shit." (10:43)
  • Amber: "I think it was Mount Sunder... something terrible was waiting up there." (11:26)

4. A Shadow Council: Dragisa & Rivus

• The perspective shifts to Dragisa meeting another Shadow, Rivus, in a hidden sanctuary called the Place of Stone.
  • Dragisa: "You are about to enter a place that is sacred to the Kin. A place that your kind across all the centuries have never been permitted to access." (14:58)
• They discuss Daniel and Amber as key threats:
  • Daniel possesses a uniquely deadly weapon against Shadows.
    • Dragisa: "He possesses the most lethal conduit this kin has ever seen. He has taken down a number of my brothers and sisters with ease in just a single strike." (17:54)
  • Amber wields “the malignant touch” and is a "Seeker" able to find Shadows psychically.
    • Dragisa: "She has the malignant touch... She has also developed the ability to reach out to us across the ether... Her light is everywhere now. There is nowhere left for us to hide." (18:40)
• Dragisa voices fear that Amber might eventually locate even their most hallowed sanctuaries, risking utter ruin for the Shadows.
  • Dragisa: "Given enough time, she may try to encroach here. And that cannot be allowed to happen." (19:40)
• An agreement is struck: Rivus will hunt Daniel and Amber; if he succeeds, Dragisa will 'return what was once his.'
• Dragisa warns Rivus about the townsfolk, who have been conditioned but may sense Rivus as an outsider—an additional obstacle.
  • Dragisa: "The townspeople will sense that you are different... So while you’re down there, it’s not going to be just the Nostromo you have to contend with, but the people as well." (22:31)

5. Piecing Together the Mystery

• Daniel and Amber search for landmarks from Amber's vision but find no clear matches in local brochures.
  • Daniel: "If those landmarks are important to the shadows, it makes sense. They would discourage people from going there. Most likely, those locations are going to be somewhere off the beaten path." (24:05)
• Roderick calls, delivering critical insight:
  • The locations in Amber’s visions correlate with residual "ether" left in Shadow dens—explaining why psychic impressions occur strongest in those sites.
    • Roderick: "It’s very likely that your location was the key factor in your ability to tap into the ether with such clarity..." (26:34)
• Destroying the den was likely an attempt by Dragisa to block such psychic tracing.
  • Amber: "She was trying to prevent you from seeing further. Fortunately... you were still able to pick up on some residual energy from the den..." (27:15)
• Roderick speculates that capturing a "wilted" Shadow, like Dragisa, or accessing one of their dens intact, could reveal secrets about the Shadows' leadership, especially the elusive Blood Monarch.
  • Roderick: "If my assumptions are correct, the wilted are the key to everything. If you could capture one, or find one of their dens intact..." (27:38)
  • Roderick: "...they can take us to the very thing they most desperately want to protect: to the Blood Monarch herself." (28:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Daniel, on facing the Shadows:
  "But I've taken down wilted before, and I have no doubt I can do it again." (04:54)

• Becca’s veiled warning:
  "Just be careful, though, all right? You really need to pay attention to where you’re going, otherwise you’ll find yourself lost in no time." (03:29)

• Dragisa, on Amber’s threat:
  "Her luminance has grown beyond anything we could have anticipated. Her light is everywhere now. It’s in every corner, every nook and cranny. There is nowhere left for us to hide." (18:48)

• Roderick, pointing to a greater revelation:
  "The wilted, they can show us the way. They can take us to the very thing they most desperately want to protect to the Blood Monarch herself." (28:13)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:19 – Daniel & Amber’s tense morning/preparations
• 04:08 – Arrival at Dragisa’s house; visions matching reality
• 07:01 – Discovery of the collapsed den and destroyed kitchen
• 10:03 – Amber’s new psychic vision (waterfall, trail, Mount Sunder)
• 14:03 – Rivus & Dragisa’s council; introduction to the Place of Stone and Shadow politics
• 17:54 – Discussion of Daniel’s unique weapon and Amber’s psychic abilities
• 24:05 – Daniel and Amber search for vision landmarks
• 25:00 – Roderick’s call, linking den energy to psychic visions
• 27:38 – Theory about wilted Shadows and the Blood Monarch
• 28:13 – Foreshadowing ultimate confrontation with the Blood Monarch

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Tone and Atmosphere

The episode carries a tense, atmospheric mood—mixing eerie quiet with psychic unease. Dialogue is sharp and conspiratorial, reflecting the escalating stakes and deep mistrust on all sides. Shadow lore continues to expand, as does a sense of impending crisis for both Daniel and Amber, and for the Shadows themselves.

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Conclusion

In "Silverton," Daniel and Amber’s investigation raises the stakes dramatically. With Amber’s psychic gifts intensifying, Dragisa on the run, and Shadow politics turning lethal, they’re closer than ever to uncovering the grand design—and grand danger—that lies at the heart of the Shadows’ world. The search for the Blood Monarch, hinted here as the linchpin of everything, has just begun.

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Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Daniel]

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[Narrator/Storyteller]

The road of shadows created by mark r. Healy a beyond the dark production season 5 episode 3 silverton.

[Amber]

Okay, I'm ready. Are you sure you've got everything? Daniel?

[Daniel]

Yeah, I'm all set. Let's go. Is everything all right? You seem a little nervous, Amber.

[Amber]

It's a big day, that's all. Not that you would know it, looking around. Silverton seems peaceful at this time of morning, doesn't it?

[Daniel]

Don't let that fool you. We both know what's out there waiting for us.

[Becca]

Hey, Good morning.

[Amber]

Oh, it's the lady who runs the motel. Um, I think her name was Becca.

[Becca]

So, making a bright and early start today, you two.

[Daniel]

Morning, Becca. Yeah, we're early risers, I guess you could say.

[Becca]

Ah. Well, I trust you slept well.

[Amber]

Great, thanks.

[Becca]

Good. They don't look it, but the beds in this place are mighty comfy, if I do say so myself. So, what are you up to today in the exciting town of Silverton?

[Daniel]

We were thinking of doing some sightseeing up on the mountain. The Trails we saw in the brochures look like fun.

[Becca]

Fun, huh? I don't know if that's exactly how I'd put it, but whatever floats your boat, I guess.

[Amber]

What do you mean?

[Becca]

That's nothing. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. Just be careful, though, all right? You really need to pay attention to where you're going, Otherwise you'll find yourself lost in no time.

[Daniel]

Are the trails difficult to follow or something?

[Becca]

They can be if you choose the wrong ones. Anyway, I've got plenty of work to do, and I'm sure you don't need mountaineering advice from the motel, lad. Have a good day, huh? I'll see you when you get back.

[Amber]

Did she seem like she was acting strange to you?

[Daniel]

Kinda. I got that vibe last night, too, when we checked in. I think she might be a little eccentric.

[Amber]

All right, let's get going. I don't want to waste any more time. We've got a job to do. Okay. This is the place. Exactly as I saw it in my vision. Right down to the picket fence and the color of the damn mailbox.

[Daniel]

And you still think Dragisa's inside?

[Amber]

If my vision is correct, then yeah.

[Daniel]

This feels, I don't know, different from the other times we've confronted shadows. We know that your Gisa is one of the highest ranking members of the Kin. We can take her down. That would be a huge win for us.

[Amber]

She's also wilted, remember? That means she's going to be tougher than your average shadow.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Agreed.

[Daniel]

We can't take her lightly. But I've taken down wilted before, and I have no doubt I can do it again. I think we have everything we need. Got the ax right here. Let's go. She didn't bother to lock the front door. That seems pretty standard for the shadows.

[Amber]

She's practically laying out the welcome mat. Does that mean she's confident or that she's already given up?

[Daniel]

Dragisa, there's no way she's giving up. Not a chance in hell. Let's see what's inside.

[Amber]

This hallway. It's the same, too. The same as my vision. I wasn't imagining things.

[Daniel]

It looks like a pretty standard house, but there's something about the place that sends a chill right down my spine.

[Amber]

Oh, hell yeah. More bad mojo, right? I'm glad we decided to have a good night's rest before coming here. This place would have been even creepier if we'd come last night, right after I had the vision.

[Daniel]

Let's check these rooms. Keep an eye out behind us.

[Amber]

Nothing there. In the vision, I found her out back through that door right there.

[Daniel]

What's behind the door?

[Amber]

I think it was a kitchen with a black and white tiled floor and a refrigerator on the left.

[Daniel]

Okay, let's take a look.

[Amber]

Oh, my God. What the hell?

[Daniel]

So is this what you saw?

[Amber]

No, I definitely did not see this in the vision. This was just a normal kitchen. And Dragisa was seated at a table right there.

[Daniel]

Let's take a look. Come on.

[Amber]

Watch your step, Daniel. You don't want to fall.

[Daniel]

What the hell happened here? Looks like a bomb went off.

[Amber]

More like a cave in or something like that. There's practically nothing left of the black and white floor tiles I saw. Just dirt and debris.

[Daniel]

Look, that fridge you mentioned, it's half buried down there in the dirt. Mangled all to hell. And there are pieces of furniture, too. Table and chairs, I think.

[Amber]

Did a sinkhole open up right in the middle of Dragisa's damn kitchen or something?

[Daniel]

That's kind of what it looks like.

[Amber]

Okay, this is a first. I've never seen anything like it. This is nothing like the vision. Maybe I wasn't seeing things as accurately as I thought.

[Daniel]

You experienced the vision last night. It's been about 10 hours, right? Maybe it was accurate at the time you had it.

[Amber]

You think? This sinkhole only just opened up this morning?

[Daniel]

And the soil smells fresh, like it's only just been turned over. And look, it's loose. It hasn't settled or compacted down at all.

[Amber]

Yeah, you're right. You don't think Jisa did this as a response to the two of us showing up in Silverton yesterday, do you?

[Daniel]

That's exactly what I'm thinking. Or more accurately, a response to you finding her in that vision.

[Amber]

But for her to do something this drastic. I mean, she's destroyed her entire damn kitchen.

[Daniel]

She's scared of us. That has to be it.

[Amber]

What would be the purpose of this, though? Why would she open up a sinkhole in her own kitchen, of all things?

[Daniel]

Trying to cover up some kind of evidence.

[Amber]

Evidence of what?

[Daniel]

I don't know. But whatever it is, it has to be big.

[Amber]

Something that she couldn't easily just remove or cover up. Maybe if I could just relive that vision, somehow I could see what it was.

[Roderick]

Wait.

[Daniel]

I think we already know the answer to that. Think of Shilling's house back in Clifford Springs. And the farmhouse owned by Susan Blake. What was hidden in the dirt under their houses?

[Amber]

Shit, they both had dens there.

[Daniel]

That's right. I'll Bet Drakees had a den too. Right here under her kitchen.

[Amber]

But a shadow's den is sacred. Practically the most important thing in their world. We know they go there whenever they're threatened. They go there to feed, to feel secure.

[Daniel]

She couldn't go there. Not this time. She knew we'd find her. But that doesn't explain why she would collapse it like this. Whatever it was, she must have had a damn good reason.

[Amber]

Either way, it seems clear that she's no longer around. And she's gone to great lengths to remove any useful evidence that might have been here.

[Daniel]

Yeah, I don't exactly feel like clawing my way through all this dirt, hoping to stumble upon a relic she might have forgotten. I don't think we'd be that lucky.

[Amber]

Let me just move some of the dirt here and. Wait a second. I feel something here.

[Daniel]

What is it?

[Amber]

As soon as my fingers touch the soil, I started to wait. I think I might be getting another vision. Hang on, Just let me. Okay, I. I see trees again. The trail in the woods. There's an incline here. I'm going to start walking. There's a waterfall up ahead. And a cliff. Is this Mount Sunder? I think I'm higher now. Further up the mountainside. There's something here. Something dark and ancient, but I can't quite see. Oh, shit.

[Daniel]

Amber. It's okay.

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[Daniel]

You alright?

[Amber]

That was. Oh, my God. That was intense. How long was I out of it?

[Daniel]

Just a few seconds. What happened? Did you see anything?

[Amber]

I saw a trail through the woods and a small waterfall barely trickling. And then things got worse.

[Daniel]

What was it?

[Amber]

I think. I think it was Mount Sunder. And I was climbing higher, way up. Something terrible was waiting up there, but I don't know what. And then all of a sudden, rocks were falling all around me, like. Like an avalanche. The rocks fell and then. And then the vision ended.

[Daniel]

Was Dragisa in the vision this time?

[Amber]

No. No, I couldn't see any shadows at all. I think that maybe the vision is pointing me toward the mountain again. It's just more specific this time.

[Daniel]

A waterfall. A trail through the woods. What do they have to do with anything?

[Amber]

They could be landmarks we have to find on our way to somewhere. Like the river in my last vision?

[Daniel]

I guess so. Do you think you'd be able to recognize them if you saw them again?

[Amber]

Yeah, I think so.

[Daniel]

Well, let's make one more sweep of the house just in case we've missed anything. After that, maybe we can figure out how to find these landmarks.

[Amber]

Right. And with any luck, maybe we'll find our friend Dragisa out there, too.

[Rivus]

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[Becca]

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[Dragisa]

Is it sweet?

[Becca]

Yes.

[Amber]

Perfect for a snack or dessert. Mmm.

[Dragisa]

Delicious.

[Rivus]

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[Daniel]

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[Rivus]

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[Daniel]

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[Amber]

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[Daniel]

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[Dragisa]

So, you have arrived.

[Rivus]

The journey has been long and arduous, but, yes, I am here.

[Dragisa]

I extend greetings on behalf of the Kin. I am known as Trakisa.

[Rivus]

I am known as Rivus. Greetings of the Kin.

[Dragisa]

You come to us at an opportune time, Ryvis. Dark times are upon us, it seems.

[Rivus]

I'm glad that I've been given the chance to make things right.

[Dragisa]

Of course. And so I offer you the blessings of the one who watches over us all.

[Rivus]

Is this really necessary?

[Dragisa]

Is what necessary?

[Rivus]

I've traveled a long way, Dragisa. And if the hour really is as late as you claim, perhaps we should dispense with pointless formalities.

[Dragisa]

I don't happen to view these as pointless formalities.

[Rivus]

Is that so?

[Dragisa]

Ryvis, Perhaps you don't understand the gravity of what is about to happen. You are about to enter a place that is sacred to the Kin. A place that you're kind across all the centuries have never been permitted to access.

[Rivus]

I'm honored.

[Dragisa]

Before you cross the threshold, there are certain rites that must be uttered as decreed by Mother herself.

[Rivus]

Perhaps you can waive them this once.

[Dragisa]

Would you prefer that I turn you away altogether? Maybe you should simply go back the way you came.

[Rivus]

You were the one who invited me here.

[Dragisa]

And you are the one who has a debt to pay, are you not?

[Rivus]

Well, now that I've spent all this time and effort climbing up this mountain of yours? It would be a waste to go back down. I suppose it would, wouldn't it?

[Dragisa]

So. Shall we proceed? Follow me. Ryv.

[Rivus]

So this is your inner sanctum.

[Dragisa]

Peaceful, isn't it? A perfect environment in which to rest.

[Rivus]

To rest? Yes. Is this where you yourself came when it was time?

[Dragisa]

Yes, I came here. Although I was far from the first. There are others who came before, stretching back decades.

[Rivus]

What is it called?

[Dragisa]

We call this simply the Place of Stone.

[Rivus]

And it has never been threatened before?

[Dragisa]

Never before now? No. Is there something you find amusing?

[Rivus]

Why do you demean yourself in the face of these Nostrama? I don't understand it.

[Dragisa]

If you knew more about their capabilities, you would not be so dismissive.

[Rivus]

Well, let's not waste any more time. Go ahead and tell me about them. I'm listening.

[Dragisa]

Very well. There are two of them, working in tandem. A male known as Daniel, and a female, Amber.

[Rivus]

Only two? I thought there would be more. The way it was described to me.

[Dragisa]

It's not the quantity of our opposition that's the concern, it's the quality. I could cut down a hundred Lesser Nostromo with my own hand, but these two.

[Roderick]

No.

[Dragisa]

These are an entirely different proposition.

[Rivus]

Tell me of their abilities.

[Dragisa]

The male Daniel. He possesses the most lethal conduit this kin has ever seen. He has taken down a number of my brothers and sisters with ease in just a single strike.

[Rivus]

That seems unlikely.

[Dragisa]

And that, dear Rivus, is exactly the kind of complacency that is going to get you killed.

[Rivus]

Either way, he'll find me a much tougher proposition, won't he?

[Dragisa]

I certainly hope so. For your sake as well as mine.

[Rivus]

What about the woman?

[Dragisa]

She is a threat in more ways than one. She has the malignant touch, for a start. The ability to melt our skin with her bare hands.

[Rivus]

A rare effect. Affliction.

[Dragisa]

Yes. And that's not even the most troubling thing about her. She has also developed the ability to reach out to us across the ether.

[Rivus]

A Seeker. How is that possible? I thought they were a myth.

[Dragisa]

Oh, she is very much real. I found her myself several months ago. In a dream I liked. Was feeble then. I thought I could use her talent to my advantage. Manipulate her. But my attempts were thwarted. Since then, her luminance has grown beyond anything we could have anticipated. Her light is everywhere now. It's in every corner, every nook and cranny. There is nowhere left for us to hide.

[Rivus]

Are you sure about this?

[Dragisa]

There is no doubt. She draws closer and closer every day. She's in the township below, right now, ever searching.

[Rivus]

Do you think she could be watching us? Even here?

[Dragisa]

I don't think so. Here, within the place of stone. We should be out of reach.

[Rivus]

You don't sound certain of that, Dragisa.

[Dragisa]

If it's an ironclad guarantee you want Rivas, then. No, I can't give that to you. All I can tell you is I don't feel her within these walls. Not yet. But given enough time, she may try to encroach here. And that cannot be allowed to happen.

[Rivus]

If she did, then all would be laid bare.

[Dragisa]

It could be the catalyst that brings about the utter ruin of this kin.

[Rivus]

I'm beginning to understand your urgency now. So, I was told that you wanted one of them spared. Are you sure that's wise?

[Dragisa]

There was a time when we wanted Amber taken alive, but we are no longer sure that is an option. She's grown very dangerous. Difficult to control.

[Rivus]

So it's execution then? For both?

[Dragisa]

If she can't be taken safely, then yes, execution for both. Although, if it were possible, we would very much like to have a sample of. For blood. A vial at minimum, but more if you can get it.

[Rivus]

You want her blood?

[Dragisa]

Yes. We have our reasons.

[Rivus]

And as per the terms I put forward, if I do this task, you will return what was stolen?

[Dragisa]

I don't believe stolen is the right term, Rivus. But yes. Once the debt is paid, we will return what was once yours.

[Rivus]

Good. In that case, I should be getting started.

[Dragisa]

There's still one thing left to discuss. Rivas. Something that shouldn't be trivialized. The township below us. At the foot of the mountain. Silverton. I take it you know little about it.

[Rivus]

I've never been here before. Not once. I know nothing about it.

[Dragisa]

Well, I do. This place has been my home for many decades. The people here, they are my flock. I have spent long years conditioning them. They are closely attuned to my every whim.

[Rivus]

That is good. You can control them? Yes. You can make them assist me in my endeavors?

[Dragisa]

Unfortunately, no. The presence of the Nostromo in Silverton is already diluting my influence. I can try to help, but I cannot guarantee anything. However, that was not my point. While I am closely aligned with the people here, you are certainly not. Especially with your background.

[Rivus]

So what are you saying? Your precious flock won't like me? Who cares?

[Dragisa]

Listen to me, Ryvis, and heed my word. The townspeople will sense that you are different, that you're an outsider. And they will reject you. You can count on that. So while you're down there, it's not going to be just the Nostromo you have to contend with, but the people as well. It would be wise for you to exercise as much caution as possible.

[Rivus]

Don't tell me how to do my work, Dragisa. I don't need your help.

[Narrator/Announcer]

What's the matter?

[Dragisa]

Have I hurt your pride by trying to offer a simple suggestion?

[Rivus]

You think that because you're wilted and I am not, that you're better than me?

[Dragisa]

This isn't about who outranks whom, Ryvis. There is only one thing that matters. Whether or not you can complete the task you've been given. So can you.

[Rivus]

I suppose we are about to find out.

[Daniel]

How are you going there, Amber? Have you found anything yet?

[Amber]

Nope. These travel brochures have been extremely unhelpful. So far, no sign of the waterfall. I saw no trail either. Nothing. These places in my vision, if they are real, they sure as hell aren't showing up in any pictures.

[Daniel]

If those landmarks are important to the shadows, it makes sense. They would discourage people from going there. Most likely, those locations are going to be somewhere off the beaten path, so they can be kept a secret.

[Amber]

I suppose you're right. But. Well, it would have been nice for a search to be a little more straightforward for once.

[Daniel]

Look, it's just one mountain. Those locations can't be too hard to find.

[Amber]

Oh, don't count on that. There are trails and streams all over the place. It could take a week or more to cover all the potential candidates.

[Daniel]

I can live with that. Especially if we find something important at the end of it.

[Amber]

I just hope I'm not imagining things, sending us on a wild goose chase.

[Daniel]

Your visions have been accurate so far. I trust you.

[Amber]

Well, I appreciate your confidence. Oh, that might be Roderick returning our last call. Let me grab it.

[Roderick]

Hello, Amber. It's good to hear your voice.

[Amber]

Hey, Roderick. Didn't expect you to call back so soon.

[Roderick]

I had a brief moment to spare, so I thought I'd get in touch. You said you had something to tell me. What happened?

[Amber]

Oh, yeah. We've got plenty to tell you. Just give me a second while I take the receiver over to Daniel.

[Roderick]

Did you find something there in Silverton? What was it?

[Daniel]

We found Dragisa's house, Roderick. Amber took us right to it, thanks to her visions.

[Roderick]

Really? That's quite extraordinary. And what did you find there?

[Amber]

Drugisa was gone. I guess we should have anticipated that. But she left behind something odd. The den under her house. It looked as though it had been collapsed on purpose.

[Roderick]

Collapsed?

[Amber]

Yeah, like she was trying to cover her tracks or something. She clearly didn't want us finding. Whatever was down there, there was nothing left of it but a big mound of upturned soil in her kitchen.

[Roderick]

To destroy something so sacred to her, it's. It's monumental.

[Daniel]

That's what we figured, too. We're not 100% sure why she did it, but we have some theories.

[Roderick]

Ah, well, as it turns out, I may be able to shed some light on that. After our last discussion about Amber's visions in the town of Lambert, I spoke to one of my scholar friends, and we think we have a theory. We don't think it was a coincidence that you experienced the visions while you were standing in the shadows den. In fact, it's very likely that your location was the key factor in your ability to tap into the ether with such clarity in that moment. The wicked ones energy fields are no doubt more active in the places they frequently inhabit.

[Amber]

That would certainly tie into what happened today. I had another vision in her kitchen. Saw a waterfall and a trail up the mountain. Or at least I think that's what I saw.

[Roderick]

What was the importance of those places, do you think?

[Amber]

We're still trying to figure that out at the moment, things are still a little vague, but this kind of proves your theory, doesn't it, Rodrick? I had the vision inside Dragisa's home. I tapped into the ether again.

[Roderick]

Yes, absolutely.

[Amber]

But her den had been collapsed, destroyed. Shouldn't that have stopped me from seeing anything?

[Roderick]

No doubt that's what Dragisa had hoped would happen. She was trying to prevent you from seeing further. Fortunately for us, it seems that you were still able to pick up on some residual energy from the den, even after it had been destroyed.

[Amber]

So you think she was just trying to stop me coming after her? Is that why she did it?

[Roderick]

Possibly. But I think there could be more to it than that. Even what you have to understand is that Dragisa is not like the other shadows. She is wilted. A member of the inner circle of the kin and one of the Monarch's most trusted servants. She is privy to things that other shadows are not. Secrets, my friends. The most sacred whispers that can be uttered amongst the shadows. If my assumptions are correct, the wilted are the key to everything. If you could capture one or find one of their dens intact.

[Amber]

Don't leave us hanging, Roderick. What would we find?

[Roderick]

I believe this could lead to the greatest discovery we've ever made. The wilted, they can show us the way. They can take us to the very thing they most desperately want to protect to the Blood Monarch herself.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

The Road of Shadows is created by Mark R. Healy. Want to hear more stories just like this one? Head over to Patreon to hear other audio productions by Mark R. Healy. There you'll also find lots of bonus content, free stuff and ad free episodes that you can hear a week early. All of that and more is available now at patreon.com BeyondTheDark. You can also hear more at the roadofshadows.com the Road of Shadows stars Hamish Plagemas, Marta da Silva, Liz Morey, Joseph Tweeter, Marlon Dance Hooey, Sarah Safarian, Nicholas Ewan and Thomas Barker. The Road of Shadows is a Beyond the Dark production,

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