It would serve a double purpose. As bright as she knew how to make, it would shock the guards, and hopefully some would be blinded. It would also be a rally call to the Alturans and Halrana both inside the camp and out. The many thousands of prisoners would be certain to know what was happening, and hopefully they would fight.

Amber knew she was taking a terrible risk. If a guard came to her tent — and they often did — she would need to move quickly indeed to hide what she was doing. With no gloves, fast movements were more than just risky. Amber could only pray to the Lord of the Sky and continue what she was doing.

Suddenly she heard movement outside. Amber's eyes grew wide with fear as she panicked. Fingers were fumbling at the knots at the tent — she'd tied them intentionally tight, but they would only hold a man for so long — and Amber heard breathing.

Everyone in the prison camp knew better than to disturb her unsought. She had made it very clear that any disturbance would compromise their whole plan.

Which meant it could only be a guard.

Amber's hands shook as she tried to put the scrill into the small bottle's opening. A single drop flew out, and her eyes watched it as with terrifying slowness the droplet fell through the air, landing on the sandal on Amber's left foot. She held back a scream and kicked the sandal off with her other foot, waiting for the pain to hit her. When the tent opened and a head poked in, Amber still had the vial on the floor in front of her, the glass bowl on her lap, and tears of terror trickling from the corners of her eyes.

The pain didn't come, and the head was Lina's.

"I'm sorry," Lina said. "I know…"

"Scratch you," Amber whispered. "I almost died, just now. Do you realise that? You almost killed me."

Lina came in and closed the tent flap behind her. "Is it that bad?"

"That bad?" Amber whimpered. "It's essence, Lina. You might not realise, but I know. I'm an enchantress. I've seen what this does to people. Lord of the Sky, you nearly killed me!"

"I said I'm sorry," Lina said, "and I wouldn't have come if it wasn't important. Rayna is about to break."

Amber gathered herself, checking that the vial, scrill, and half-constructed nightlamp were safe, before Lina's words registered.

"About to break? What do you mean?"

"Rayna's scared about tomorrow night. The woman is crazed. She's going to tell the guards. I mean it. Samora has her, and for the moment she's keeping her calm, but in moments the woman will be screaming our plans to the world."

"Can't you take care of it?"

"No, Amber, I can't. Rayna's a friend of Samora. I need you."

"All right. Help me put this back under the pallet. Then let's go and see them."

~