Isles of the Emberdark

by Brandon Sanderson

The unsea was thicker here, more visible. Shadowy but…lighter. And was that a school of fish swimming deep below? “The unsea’s essence is more ocean-like here,” she said as ZeetZi and Aditil arrived. “Each planet in the Physical Realm has a profound effect on Shadesmar,” Ed said. “Near Nalthis the surface is painted colors, wet with pigment and flowers that drip ink. Roshar? Glass beads, like the gemstones they use for light, and inverted land and sea—which is common for some regions, but not all of them.” “And here it’s more like water,” Starling said. “Drominad is an ocean planet, I assume?” “Exactly,” Ed said. “The change here is more subtle than others, but it is a change. We sometimes see subastrals like this one near sea-faring cultures, where the unsea becomes the dominant feature, instead of fully solidifying, even for oceans. This might be why the Drominad perpendicularity, despite being less than a month’s journey from important lanes of travel, hasn’t been found. Because at first glance, this region seems like just any other part of the endless emberdark. These hints, though, are proof. We are absolutely within a planetary subastral.”