Tides. I have one shot at this.
A powerful thrust of my hands.
The crackling sound of water freezing into thick ice.
My breath shears my lungs. I did it. Tides, let it hold.
A dome of water encases the platform, several inches thick. Dull thuds echo inside the small orb as the warriors attack from the outside. I grit my teeth, struggling to keep the dome frozen while the other wielders try to force the water to melt.
Slowly, Zev straightens.
Even inside the dome, the threatening boom of thunder echoes.
“I’m ready.” His voice is still hoarse, his eyes are bloodshot, but thank the Tides, he’sstanding.
Relief crashes into me like a tidal wave.
I drop the ice shield.
It’s raining, the sky a dark, ominous gray.
Raindrops freeze into sharp needles, sent careening into flesh. Zev drops his hand, and a bolt of lightning slams into two men.
But it’s not enough.
The warriors close in. My hands shake as I block their attacks.
“Can you electrocute them? Like you did with—”
“No,” he grits out. “Too weak.” His hands tremble as he summons another bolt of lightning, weaker this time, and kills one more Tundrayni. “Get behind me.”
“No.Youget behindme.”
When he doesn’t move, I dart in front of him, taking an ice spear to the chest that I barely manage to blunt in time. I crash backwards into Zev, and we both almost go tumbling. His hands steady my hips.
“Summon a massive wave.” His voice is rough in my ear. “Flood the entire camp.”
I obey.
I call to the water, as much as I can summon. It flows close to the ground, weaving between boots, rising and rising until it’s ankle deep.
The air is charged.
Static crackles around me.
Zev raises a hand.
The sky splits open.
A bolt of lightning shoots down.
Electricity flows through the rushing water, into every man on the ground. Their bodies jerk, rigid limbs clawing the air. The stench of singed hair and burnt flesh assaults my nostrils.
It seems like it lasts hours, but it must only be minutes.
One by one, the warriors drop.
My lungs expel all my air.
