“I’m good.” She hardly sounded like Sammi anymore. Her voice was older, heavy with trouble and devoid of a teenager’s lightness.

“There!” Angela said. “That’s it, isn’t it?”

Vince held up his hand, and a moment later they heard a percussive, deep hiss. Down at the river a silvery spray of water still hung in the air, spreading and falling softly just as another column rose up further along the course. It pounded into the night air, illuminated by moonlight and expanding as the second boom sounded across the valley. Another column rose, then another, sounding like mines exploding in a regulated pattern along the river.

“Nice, Shashahanna!” Vince said.

“They’ll be going for her now,” Angela said.

“Some of them. Others will be more on guard. We do our bit now, and Mallian will put his plans on hold until he finds out what’s happening.” And then he’ll stomp us into the ground, Vince thought. The pain from his broken arm was a reminder of what was to come. Next time, Mallian would crush his head, or his chest, or small bits of him one after another.

“Tell us as soon as you’re ready, Sammi,” he said.

“I will.”

“I mean it.”

“I’ll tell you, Vince!” For the first time in a while she sounded like the old Sammi. Vince wasn’t sure if he was pleased or not. The old Sammi deserved to live past all this, but it was the new Sammi who might save them all.

“Let’s go,” he said. Wielding his sharpened spear in one hand, he led the way from the soft grass onto the damp, dusty silt. It was like stepping from one world into another.

* * *

The impacts from the river continued as they advanced towards Longford. Vince thought he could hear shouts from that direction, but none of them paused to listen. As they reached the first hump of a ruined building, Dastion dashed ahead and swung his pike from across his shoulder.

Before Vince knew what was happening Dastion was leaping back from a hissing, spitting thing, pike held across his chest. It advanced quickly, feet silent against the soil, a sleek humanoid shape, its snake’s head filled with countless sharp teeth that gleamed pale in the moonlight.

Dastion danced left and jabbed with the pike, but the Kin was faster. It jigged to the right, dashed past Dastion, and came for Vince.

“Down!” he heard, and he fell to his knees with his spear held out before him, ready to impale the charging beast. He heard a swish above his head, and Angela’s spear slashed across the creature’s chest.

It cried out, a surprisingly human sound, and fell back with a scaly hand pressed to its wound.