My people struggle on shaky limbs to pull themselves to their feet, some flinch less, the stun wearing off. The Seer hobbles toward the Chancellor, using a lead stick as a cane. “I had to see your face one more time.”

He doesn’t move, rigid with shock or fear or something equally as potent.

“Look at me, Xire. Look at your life’s work.”

He blinks and I call on my magic. He’s going to take her out any second, I just know it. I wait, but he stares, his hands unmoving.

“K-kitri.” He gulps. “I-I thought you were dead.”

“You’d hoped I was dead,” she hisses, taking another step, her skin peeling in the direct sun. I want to go to her, to do something, but this is her moment and it’s been a long time coming.

“Did he tell you all how he founded this great land?” She addresses the Loyalists, but the Macazi, the Ghizoni look up too. “How he poisoned those good people’s Ancestors?”

“Well… I didn’t technically. You did.”

Lightning crackles and the world darkens. Cold droplets of rain pelt my skin.

“Do you know what happens, Xire, when you dabble in magic that wasn’t meant for you?”

He steps back. “I-I made so many mistakes back then, I…” He’s frozen with fear. I would be too if I was talking to someone I thought I’d killed.

She steps toward him. “Did you know what it would do to me?”

He licks his lips nervously. “I-I had an idea. B-but not exactly.”

“It cursed me, Xire. Poisoned my blood and locked me in this rotting body forever.”

He swallows and the rain falls harder.

“It gave me their pain as torture, day in and day out. Aches in my bones, nightmares; it made it impossible for me to feel affection without excruciating agony.” She spits the words between gritted teeth. “It destroyed my life. You destroy things. It’s what you do.” She stands inches from him now. “I said I’d never make another potion, because of what it did.” She whips out the box Taavi was using and presses it to him. His shoulders slump, hands shaking, energy paralyzing him from head to toe.

She leans in and whispers, “I lied.” She pries his mouth open and pours a vial of liquid down his throat. He convulses and the taser disconnects. He manages to shove her aside, firing a weak stream of magic at her. Already fragile, she falls limp.

“Hurry!” I yell. “The onyx.”