This time it was Barl who stepped back. “You think I like killing these creatures? I’m doing this because I have to, because Dorana needs me to. Because Morgan asked me to help him save us, and he can’t do it alone. It’s sad the calf died. And sad it won’t be the last one. But Remmie, I will kill a hundred calves, a thousand, to keep Dorana safe. If I don’t, if I stop now… then I’ll have done this for nothing!”

He stared at his sister, this stranger, his heart pounding against his ribs. In the poultry coop beside them he could hear the horrible, heavy thunking of the mageworked chickens’ feathers as the deformed creatures struggled to move beneath the unnatural weight.

“Barl… let’s go,” he said. “While Danfey’s away. However awful things are beyond this estate, they’re worse here. Please.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

She knocked his hand aside. There were tears in her eyes. “You are mad! And you should never have come. How can you be so selfish, Remmie? What are your squeamish feelings compared to countless innocent lives?”

“If you care so much for countless innocent lives,” he retorted, his own eyes burning, “then why don’t you poke your nose off this privileged estate and see what is happening beyond its warding! Whole villages, swallowed by mage-mist. Crops ruined. Livestock rotting in ditches. Misery like you wouldn’t believe. People are terrified, you stupid, ignorant girl. Thanks to the mage-mist, they’re dying. If you want to use your magework to save Dorana, Barl, save it from that! Don’t use it for this!”

“But this is what’s going to save us, Remmie! Why are you arguing with me when we’re on the same side? You just said it yourself, Dorana is under attack, and I’m saying that what Morgan and I are doing, what we’re creating, will be our only hope!”

“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?” Overwhelmed with angry disgust, Remmie fastened his fingers to his sister’s arm and dropped to his knees beside the scaled calf, dragging her down with him. “Look at this thing you’ve created, Barl. Look at it. This is not hope. This is cruelty and despair. It’s wrong, you know it is, and while you might’ve convinced yourself to look the other way as you create these monsters, you will never convince me!” Panting, he flailed onto his feet. “Now I’m going back to Batava. Come with me or don’t. That’s up to you. But if you stay here, Barl? If you choose to keep doing this? Then I never knew you. And I never want to see you again.”