Kaylin flinched as Azoria’s face began to lose the appearance of a Barrani face. Just as her hands had done, elements of that face warped and distended.

“Sedarias!”

Sedarias glanced at Kaylin.

“Don’t let her touch any of you in any way.”

The leader of the cohort looked annoyed by the words, but she did draw sword. So did Teela. Teela’s sword, however, drew Azoria’s immediate attention.

“Terrano could not have become Azoria because he has no desire to have power over others. Did he cause injury and possible death in his desire to escape captivity? Yes. Yes, he did. But if Alsanis had simply allowed the cohort to leave, he would have ignored his people—and yours—entirely. He made no attempt to justify his actions to either you or his victims. She believes that as she is the center of her own life, she is the center of all. I did not answer her call, but I heard it.

“I answered yours.”

“I didn’t call you! I had no idea that something like you could even be called. I’m not a Sorcerer—why would I even think of summoning a familiar?”

“Why, indeed? But look at you. You have bumbled your way, in ignorance, into becoming Chosen, and you have, at your side, a familiar that might once have served Sorcerers of old. Were it not for Severn and Teela, she would immediately attempt to devour you whole.”

“Devouring me won’t give her either of those things.”

“No—but you do not deserve them, Kaylin. She does, as she worked so hard and so thanklessly. If she is not to have them for all of her effort, no one shall.”

Teela’s sword was glowing a very, very odd color.

“She’s not a Dragon,” Kaylin began.

“Did you believe that the Dragonslayers were only effective against Dragonkind? You have seen the swords in use to great effect, and they were not used against Dragons at that time. The weapons are empowered to fight many things, and they grant their users powers they would not otherwise possess.”

Azoria’s flesh lost the perfect, unblemished Barrani skin. A hint of color began to spread across her face, her arms—an opalescence that Kaylin had seen many times. Shadow.

“Things will become hectic very soon,” Hope said, voice soft. “I can only slow time for a very narrow period.”

“Slow time?”

“Hers. You didn’t think she was standing in the doorway observing us for no reason, did you?”

Kaylin was certain that Severn had heard what Hope said; she shouted a warning to the cohort to let them know that whatever Azoria might unleash was incoming.

Mandoran cursed—in Leontine—and said, “When we get home, we’re exchanging names! This is stupid!”

“Not a great time to get into a screaming match with Sedarias,” Kaylin snapped.