“You!” Hector cried, striding over to one of the Paladin who was stumbling to his knees, clutching his face in horror. Hector grabbed hold of his collar and jerked him back to his feet. “Tell me where she went.”

“Oathbreaker,” the Paladin spat. “What did you do to us?”

“Tell me where the girl is, or I swear on my broken oath I’ll throw you into the sea.”

“I would never tell you,” the Paladin snarled.

Without missing a beat, Hector shoved him toward the edge of the cliff.

“Wait, wait, wait!” the Paladin said, stumbling, hands grasping out into nothingness. “She and the Pale Hand escaped. They took the Prophet hostage.”

Hassan glanced at Jude, who looked just as confused as Hassan felt.

“Let’s get to high ground,” Hassan said. “Maybe we can spot them.”

Jude and Hector sheathed their swords, and Jude led them up through the stands and into the tunnel that connected the amphitheater to the central hexagonal courtyard of the citadel. Hector and Jude took up the front as they hustled through, on the lookout for more Sentry and Paladin.

“Stay here,” Hector said to them. He sprinted past the mouth of the tunnel and bounded smoothly up onto the wall that surrounded the courtyard.

“Wait, Hector!” Jude cried.

Hector froze on the wall and Hassan spun to see what Jude had spotted. Down the walkway that branched out from the courtyard toward the citadel perimeter, a group of Witnesses strode briskly toward them, flanked by more Paladin. Cuffed between the Witnesses was the god-girl and her sister.

Jude seized Hassan’s arm, dragging him back into the tunnel, out of sight. He unstrapped the sword across his back and handed it to Hassan.

“Be ready,” was all he said, before he disappeared around the corner.

Hassan waited in tense anticipation, clutching the sword tight.

A moment later, he spotted a blur of movement and heard the scrape of a sword unsheathing. Jude.

Hassan raced forward, unsheathing his own sword.

“Get them!” someone cried as Hassan launched himself into the frenzy of Witnesses. Jude and Hector were barely visible, just blurs of movement, their speed enhanced by their Graces.

But very quickly, Hassan realized they weren’t the only ones using enhanced speed. The Witnesses were, too. As if, somehow, they were Graced.

A Witness seized hold of Hassan. Hassan stumbled back, jerking to break his hold. With a flick of his arm, the Witness tossed Hassan back against the wall with unnatural strength.

Hassan collapsed, the wind knocked out of him. There was no mistaking it—the Witnesses were Graced.

The Witness didn’t bother with Hassan again, instead whirling off to where Hassan could see Jude and Hector fighting their way toward the god-girl and her sister. A circle of bloody Witnesses surrounded them.