Asking for mercy from someone with a knife in your gut was to acknowledge their power. And Caledonia was done acknowledging Lir’s power.

“You don’t have any to give,” she spat.

With a snarl, Lir dove for her. Caledonia dodged, rolling swiftly out of reach. She tugged at her bindings, hoping whatever spark had landed there had weakened the rope. Wet warmth spilled down her hands and she tugged harder.

Lir renewed his attack. This time he went high, forcing her to dodge. She spun and danced out of his way, but with every movement, her head spun a little more than the rest of her. She’d never tasted Silt in her life and suddenly she was inhaling it with every breath.

Where Lir seemed to thrive on the additional dose, Caledonia struggled to know where her body ended and the air began. She couldn’t sustain this for long. And she definitely couldn’t win in this condition. She needed help.

Donnally. Where was Donnally? Had he survived the explosion?

Again, she tugged at her wrists. This time, she felt a hint of movement.

Time passed in a blur. Caledonia evaded Lir’s attacks but each time her feet felt slower, her lungs tighter. Her hands grew hot and wet as she fought to pull them apart with no luck. Lir lashed out, dragging the blade across her chest. A curtain of blood dripped down her front. She felt the pressure of it, but not the sting. Lir laughed, low and confident. As if he were toying with her.

It took her a second to realize that was exactly what he was doing. He was wearing her down. He would enjoy cutting her apart a little at a time over killing her with a single blow. And that was something she could use to her advantage.

Dodging again, Caledonia let her breath come a little harder, and she fell briefly to one knee.

Lir slowed his own steps in response, giving her a moment to recover. Or perhaps he was savoring her struggle. Blood shone on the edge of his knife as he stood with the sun on his face. “Bale Blossom,” he said, teasing her with the name. “Your final gift to me is your life.”

He struck, darting forward with incredible speed. Caledonia tugged at her wrists and felt the snap of the ropes. Her hands came free just in time to deflect Lir’s attack.

Surprise painted his face as Caledonia used his own momentum against him, twisting his wrist and driving him into the ground in one smooth motion.

He dropped her dagger and before he could recover, Caledonia scooped it up and drove it into his gut.

Lir’s eyes widened in surprise. His mouth gaped. Blood bloomed over Caledonia’s hand and she barely stopped herself from driving it all the way through him.