“Yes, you’re right. And if I didn’t have so many people in danger, I would drink your tea, crawl under the fur, and embrace your healing sleep.”

He huffed, somewhat mollified, and left.

At least he spared her his lecture. The colossal effort to stand left her weak and on the edge of tears. So much for being the powerful sun-kissed.

Zhek returned holding a large glass of orange-tinted water. “Drink this.” He handed it to her.

Not sure she trusted him, she said, “It’s orange.”

“That’s what happens when you mix a restorative with pain medicine.”

“Thanks.” She gulped it. Her relief was as cool as the liquid sliding down her throat.

He grunted. “They’re my people, too. I’m coming with you.”

She choked. “But—”

“The survivors will need to be tended to. And you know that dolt Timin isn’t as good as me.”

If Timin had survived, but she quickly stopped those thoughts because she knew they’d lead to her wondering about a certain other person and whether he’d survived or not.

By the time she joined Mojag and Gurice, her pain had eased. She glanced at Zhek.

“It’ll wear off in about eighty angles.”

Good to know.

They followed Mojag down to the rendezvous point. He took them on an odd route, zigzagging through the edges of Zirdai, but they encountered no one. And no one else was in the lounge on level ninety. They’d arrived early. Shyla wanted to ensure another ambush wasn’t waiting for them. She checked all the nearby tunnels and used her magic to sense if Arch Deacons were hiding inside the apartments on this level. All was quiet and rather empty. She wondered if they’d been spooked by the explosions and had gone to the higher levels just in case.

Soon after she returned, the guards and Invisible Swords started arriving. As familiar faces filled the room, she hugged each one tight. Rae, Jaft, Lamar, Yoria, and many others. Not Elek, Lian, or Ximen. Or Rendor. Didn’t mean they were dead. Everyone was equally glad to see her as well.

Shyla pushed her fears and doubts to the back of her mind and focused on the task at hand. She explained what they were going to do.

“You’ve one job. Incapacitate the enemy. Wielders, team up with a fighter. You can freeze your opponent with the stop command long enough for your partner to knock him out. For the rest of you, do whatever it takes to get through. Question any thoughts that are not your own. If something appears impossible, it’s an illusion. If they disappear, attack the spot they were just at—they’re still there! Don’t stop. Understand?”

A chorus of yes.