A shadow rose from the crevasse, a limb of darkness as vast as a ship’s hull, wreathed in heat that made the air shimmer. It swept through our formation like a scythe through wheat.
Barra didn’t even have time to raise her sword.
Orange flames engulfed her, and shescreamed. The sound ripped through me, along with her mairen’s shrieking, and I watched them both thrash as fire consumed them.
I couldn’t do anything but stare.
Then another warrior lit like kindling, the blond male whose rune I’d destroyed. Another warrior threw a spear at the limb, and seconds later he turned into a living torch.
Watch, Aelithra.Tazurel’s soft purr curled through my mind.Watch what happens to those who challenge a god.
“Enough!” The scream burst from my throat. “Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just stop killing them!”
The shadow limb froze, hovering over Torvin. He stood beneath it, his sword raised.
Better. You learn slowly, but you do learn.
I pressed my forehead into the dirt, gasping.
Let the smell of their burning flesh be seared into your memory.
Tears streaked through the ash on my face and the presence squeezed harder, crushing me.
Listen carefully. You must hasten your journey. The shadow-wielder plays with forces he does not understand, and what he’s attempting will not free us.
I sat upright, wiping my eyes. “What is Vaeris doing?”
Dark claws twisted around my skull and I cried out, curling into myself.
Go to the seal.The limb withdrew, sinking back toward the fissure.Break it.
The pressure over my head lifted, and the ground shuddered once, then went still. Kairos pulled me against his chest. The smell of char hung thick in the air. I gagged, and Kairos held me tighter.
“Don't look,” he murmured.
But I had to see what my hesitation had cost.
I pulled back and turned.
The ground where Barra had stood was black. Three shapes lay scattered across the scorched earth. Not bodies, ash in the vague suggestion of limbs. A sword, half-melted, still clutched in skeletal fingers.
Three warriors dead.
Uther approached us, his face carved from granite. “That was dragonfire. What the fuck just happened?”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t listen—I should have?—”
“Aelie.” Kairos's hand found my face, tilting it toward him. “Tell us what happened.”
I swallowed. “Tazurel. The dragon from my visions. He’s...he’s furious. I didn’t go to Vaeris when he told me to. He said Vaeris is doing something to the seal.”
Elwen dismounted, leading her mairen closer. “What?”
“I don’t know.” I pressed the heels of my hands against my eyes, trying to stop the tears. “He didn’t explain. He said to hurry.”
Uther ran a hand over his face.
I looked at the scorched earth where Barra had stood.
