While Noon's bleeding enemy bent low to sniff at his body, the other two again went for Rhiana. She ducked below one heavy fist and stabbed at the thing's gut, but its reach was too long. The other one struck at her with its ruined hand, screeching as its bloody stumps raked Rhiana across the side of the head, her own involuntary grunt of pain adding to the noise.

Nomi needed to help, but she could not leave Beko's side. Not while he was like this.

The thing that had killed Noon turned to look at her.

She stood and hefted the sword, and suddenly its weight was a comfort. It would give momentum to a swing and power to a thrust, and she stood astride Beko, ready to fight.

Rhiana shouted in rage. One of her attackers had entangled its fingers in her weapon belt, and as she swung her sword the other grabbed her arm and twisted. Her shout turned to a scream, but even above that Nomi could hear the bones breaking and her arm crunching from its socket.

The things kicked Rhiana to the ground and stood back as she tried to sit up. She managed to turn and look at Nomi, then her skin grew shockingly pale and she passed out.

“Piss on you,” Nomi said. “All of you.”

The three of them advanced slowly. They knew they had won, so they were taking their time, and Nomi wondered whether they would play with her before delivering the final blow.

“Like your dress,” she said to one of the things. Maybe it was female, maybe not; she really couldn't tell. It blinked at her, and for a beat she wondered if it understood. But they came on without pause. There was no sense of hope in their expressions, and absolutely nothing human in their eyes.

They struck the sword from her hands and a heavy fist hit her in the chest, driving her away from Beko. One of them stepped over the shivering Serian and kicked Nomi, sending her rolling even farther away. Then it squatted beside her. She could smell it, rank and sweet. It panted and spat as it stared at her. She tried not to meet its gaze.

The other two prodded and sniffed at Beko. Obviously satisfied that he was not a threat, they too squatted, and then the three things began to click in that strange language Nomi had heard earlier.

She blinked slowly, trying not to see the way Beko's chest was moving slower and slower. Blood still pulsed from his eyes and depressed skull. His left hand shook, still holding the small knife he had drawn. They had not even bothered to disarm him.