Thurvishar blinked. “Wait. Just because he shape-changed into a dragon doesn’t mean he is one. Khaemezra did the same thing…”

“Yeah, but Relos Var is a dragon. Remember the dragon who flew overhead when I was in Kharas Gulgoth? That was Var.”

Thurvishar inhaled. “I suppose it might have been.”

“Well, If I were a dragon who could only be killed if someone had my Cornerstone,” said Qown, “and another wizard had it? I’d reclaim it the second I heard he’d died.”

“Yeah, I would too.” Kihrin sighed. “It was worth a dice throw, anyway.”

Janel stared up, dumbstruck, as the dragon reared back.

It hadn’t worked.

It hadn’t worked, and she’d done everything perfectly.

“Janel!” She had that much warning before Senera grabbed her, not physically but magically, pulling her from the path of Morios’s clawed hand.

“Aw, come back, little girl. We’re not done playing.”

“I’m so glad I’ve made a good impression,” Janel said, feeling hysterical.

A fractal circle opened in midair next to them; Tyentso stepped through.

“Cover your ears!” Tyentso shouted to Janel and Senera, as well as anyone else in proximity.

Tyentso pointed the Scepter of Quur at the dragon. Janel and Senera both put their hands over their ears. The air distorted as a beam roared from Tyentso’s scepter to Morios. A high-pitched, horrid sound emanated from the beam, impossibly painful to hear.

Where the beam hit, Morios’s body just … vibrated apart, the beam drilling right through him.

Oh, thank Khored, Janel thought. Surely this will—

Then Morios laughed again, and everyone watched in horror as the gaping holes through his body healed over.

“I take it back. I haven’t had a fight like this since my brother.”

But instead of attacking, Morios launched himself up into the air and began flying back toward Atrine. He turned and looked back over his shoulder as he flew, as if checking to make sure his audience was paying attention.

“What’s he doing?” Senera said.

“Baiting us,” Janel growled. “He knows we don’t want to see Atrine destroyed, so he’ll force us to go to him. As he said, he’s playing.”

“Oh, it’s worse than that,” Tyentso said. “He is going to hover over a crowd so I can’t try the magnet trick again.” She gave Janel a sympathetic look. “The medics are on their way. It was a good try. Sorry it didn’t work out.” She opened another portal and left.

“Damn it all.” Janel started to stand but then ground her teeth as the pain in her leg reminded her why moving was a bad idea.

“Wait here,” Senera said. “I can’t heal your leg, you know. Never could—you’re a two-healer job. Let me find someone.”

“It’s fine,” Janel said through gritted teeth. “Help Tyentso. I can take care of this myself.”