Shani was the next to reach the top. Ella kicked her horse into a gallop, and Afiri leapt over the sand as his pace picked up.

Then the ground opened up in front of her.

Ella suddenly found herself staring into a wide hole in the desert floor, a dozen paces wide, with sand spilling into it on all sides.

Afiri reared as he halted mid-stride, and all Ella could do was hold on and pray Afiri wouldn't fall forward. Ella felt the horse tremble as his front legs slipped.

Ella stared into the hole in horror as the Devil appeared.

The first thing she saw was its head. It came out and up, mouth open and sucking as the sand poured down into its gullet. Row after row of glistening teeth lined the inside of its white lips, each the size of Ella's dagger, jagged and sharp. An eyeless head and two wide nostrils made its gaping jaw the most prominent part of its body.

The creature shot out of the hole, knocking Ella's horse backwards and sending Ella flying through the air to land heavily on the sand.

Ella scrambled to her feet, then dashed over to Afiri, grabbing the dagger from her saddlebags and speaking the words that would activate the protective capabilities of her dress as Afiri attempted to get back up. She turned away from the panicked horse and faced the beast.

As the symbols that covered the silk lit up with blue and purple, the creature reared its body and plunged down at Ella, the putrid stench of its breath buffeting her as the jaws closed over her.

Ella felt the familiar feeling of the knowledge coursing through her; she was an enchantress, and this was the dress she had enchanted with the most powerful lore she knew how to create.

The Devil of Lyra's teeth bit down on a sheath of green armour stronger than steel. Closing her mind to the fear and her eyes to the creature's awful attack, Ella chanted in a sonorous rhythm, her voice neither quavering nor breaking stride.

She activated the lightning.

With a flash brighter than the sun, electric bolts and discharges covered Ella's form. The sandworm made a sound like breaking boulders and the ground trembled as it reared away in pain and its head rose high into the air.

Ella opened her eyes. The sandworm had left her where she stood, and she ran towards Afiri. She tried to catch him, but the terrified horse shied away. Ella shouted to Jehral.

"My horse!" she cried.

Jehral turned his own horse with a tight sweep and galloped towards Afiri.

The giant sandworm seemed to peer sightlessly at Ella. Perhaps it had no eyes, but it could still sense her somehow.