"Oldforge," she said. "My village. The weredragon family lived there once. That is where Tanin loved me." She clenched her fists. "That is where Jeid burned me."

Raem stared down at the village, sneering. As they flew closer, details emerged. He saw only a few scattered clay huts, their roofs thatched with straw. Only a single brick building rose here, perhaps a smithy, smaller than even a humble Eteerian home. Reed boats swayed at the docks.

Raem laughed. "The fabled King of Requiem—not a son of nobility or light after all. A simple barbarian. He may style himself a royal leader, but—"

He bit down on his words and frowned. Seated in the saddle before him, Ciana was trembling. When Raem leaned around her, he saw tears pouring from beneath her mask. He felt something he had not felt in a long time, not since before his children had betrayed him. He felt pity. He felt . . . love. He stroked the young woman's hair.

"Sweetness, why do you tremble? Why do your tears fall?"

She stared down at the village. Her voice shook. "I can still feel it. His fire flowing over me. I can still hear it. My own screams. Even now it burns." She touched her bronze mask. "I now have a face of metal. I now have a mind of memories. They did this to me here. This village is the scar that will forever mark my body and twist inside me."

Raem held her close to him, and his rage flared. His voice hissed through his clenched jaw. "Then this is the village where you will be reborn. Here you were hurt. Here I will heal you." He dug his spurs into his demonic bat and he roared for his army to hear. "To the village! Land in Oldforge."

As they descended, he sucked in strained breaths. His fingers trembled and Ciana was warm against him. He had seen it done before. He had seen the masterwork of these demons, their hooks and needles creating artwork from flesh and bone and blood. They had used their art to torture; now they would use it to heal.

He kissed the back of Ciana's head. "You are a true warrior of Taal, a great huntress of dragons. I will heal you."

Villagers fled as the demon army landed in the village. They locked themselves in homes, only for demons the break down the doors and drag them out. Some fled into the fields, only for more creatures to pounce and grab them. A few villagers tried to fight with arrows and spears; demon acid, claws, and fangs tore them apart.

"Do not yet feed!" Raem shouted. He dismounted his bat and walked among the huts. "Bring all the women to me. Line them up."