Screams echoed up from below. The strike of metal on metal. A child’s sobs. The harsh screech of birds.

Viktor’s breath misted as his shadow stirred. He let it rise.

“Come along, my old friend,” he murmured. “We’ve slept too long.”

The sonorous chimes of the kraikon-battle ended with a screech of tearing metal. Golden magic arced away into the rafters. Farran’s kraikon, or Edvard? Sevaka had no way to know. Barked commands and running footsteps grew louder with every passing moment, just as Elzar grew slower with every step. They’d be caught, and sooner rather than later.

Unless something changed.

Her legs buckled as she reached for the banister. Brow streaming with sweat, Sevaka hauled herself into an approximation of upright. Elzar halted at the half-landing and stumbled back down the steps. Weathered hands reached for hers. She waved him away.

“I’m slowing you down,” she said. “Leave me. Find Viktor.”

He stopped, bushy brows knitting with indecision. “They’ll kill you.”

She laughed, the sound more gasp than mirth. “You don’t know my mother. She’ll want to lecture me first. Go.”

Elzar gave a sharp nod and fled up the stairs.

Running footsteps grew nearer. Shadows took on ephemeral shape. Sevaka cast down her sword and folded her arms. “Here I am. You can take me to my mother now.”

“Get back here, gutterling!” bellowed Farran.

The boy ignored him and ran full-tilt across the gantry. Farran caught him on the threshold to the next hallway. He snaked his hand about the boy’s mouth and dragged him back off his feet.

“Got you, you little . . .”

The brat bit down hard on the heel of his hand. Howling in pain, Farran cuffed the boy about the head. The child hit the floor. Defiant eyes blazed through tears.

Farran grabbed the brat again – by the collar this time – and yanked him to his feet. “You want to live to see daylight?”

The sullen stare was his only reply.

Volarn stepped from the stairway. “Everything under control, captain?”

“You being funny, sergeant?”

“No, sir.” Her eyes dipped briefly to the boy. “Looks a handful. The high proctor’s still here somewhere. We’ve got Lady Sevaka. Kernclaw’s playing with the rest.”

Farran shuddered. Orders were orders, but just because her ladyship had commanded he work alongside the vranakin didn’t mean he had to like it. Even thinking about her made the shadows lengthen. “Any sign of Akadra?”

“Not a glimpse. Maybe the kernclaw already got him.”

Wouldn’t that be nice? Farran tried to ignore the chill settling in his bones. All of a sudden, he longed for the daylight. “All right. We’ll take this one out and leave her to it. You know Akadra’s reputation. I don’t want to run into him.”

“Too late,” rumbled a new voice. “He has already found you.”

The shadows pulsed. Farran didn’t even have time to scream.