Adem glanced back in time to see the sorcerer’s extended hand flex then close into a fist. There was a cry from the elderly priest. A cry that was cut off. The light went out and a deathly silence followed.

Slowly Adem’s eyes adjusted to the faint glimmer of early dawn. He found himself staring at the silent place where priests and hunters had stood, and could not persuade his eyes to move away from the bloody mound of crushed limbs, weapons, packs and priests’ circs, not even as his stomach heaved its contents onto the ground.

There was an animal whine nearby. A voice spoke strange words in soothing tones. Adem watched as vorns gathered around the sorcerer to be petted. Then the injured vorn whined again and the sorcerer looked up, straight into Adem’s eyes.

Though he knew there was no hope, Adem ran.

As Auraya entered Juran’s room she met the eyes of each of the other White. Juran had woken her a short while before so that she could link with the priests fighting the sorcerer. She had sensed the minds of the other White, and felt their shock and dismay.

“I’m sorry, Auraya,” Juran said. “If I had known the confrontation was going to end so badly I would not have woken you.”

She shook her head. “Don’t apologize, Juran. You could not have known how it would turn out, and it’s no revelation to me that terrible things happen in this world—though I do appreciate your concern.”

He ushered her to a chair. “Such a waste,” he murmured. He began to pace the room. “I should not have sent them. I should have investigated myself.”

“You could not have known this sorcerer was so powerful,” Dyara repeated. “Stop blaming yourself and sit down.”

Auraya glanced at Dyara, amused despite the seriousness of the moment to hear her take such a stern tone with Juran. The White leader did not appear to mind. He dropped into his chair and sighed heavily.

“Who is this sorcerer?” Rian asked.

“A Pentadrian,” Mairae replied. “There is a sketch of the star pendant in the report. They’re worn by Servants of the Gods.”

“A powerful sorcerer priest,” Dyara added.

Juran nodded slowly. “You’re right. So why is he here?”

“Not to propose trade or forge an alliance, it seems,” Mairae said.

“No,” Dyara agreed. “We have to consider whether he was sent here or is acting on his own. Either way, he must be dealt with, and we cannot risk sending a high priest or priestess to confront him.”

Rian nodded. “One of us must go.”