“We already knew that. But what is their purpose here? Where is Tea? Did she intend to attract the Drychta to these mountains long enough for us to arrive?” His eyes narrowed, studying the man like he’d never seen him before. “Or did her lures equally apply to us?”

“That is a possibility.”

He drew his sword at lightning speed, pointed it at the Gorvekai’s chest. “Why did Tea send you with us? Tell me.”

Lord Agnarr took no offense. His gaze was sympathetic. “Lady Tea sent me to ensure that you would come here, milord, and not into Drycht, as your empress wanted.”

From somewhere far off came a thin, toneless cry. It hung in the air, and my blood chilled at the sound. I had spent weeks listening to those howlings while the beasts frolicked along the Sea of Skulls, after their owner coaxed them one by one into semblances of life and bottled their essences into her soul.

From the rocky shores of the Hollows that spilled out into the Odalian Sea, misshapen forms rose from the foam. First came the nanghait, its faces emerging from beneath the roll of the tides, pulling itself through the rocks and silt. Then the taurvi and its crooning voice, and the zarich with its loping gait. One by one, the daeva washed ashore, skins and hides gleaming from the sea, and as one, they raised their heads and roared.

From above, the azi swooped down, tail whipping and talons sharp. Unlike its brothers, it made no sound. The azi had no need for those theatrics. Instead, it made straight for the Hollows, flames streaming from its three mouths.

And as our horrified eyes watched, the mountains caught fire.

20

We expected the Drychta army to attack well before dawn, so the generals spent the rest of the night planning defense strategies. Everyone was tense. General Lode predicted the army would attack the base camp in the hopes of putting King Kance in danger, and we were determined not to let that happen.

In the end, however, it was my azi that sounded the warning cry. I rose from bed but had no need to leave the camp. Ignoring the shouts of alarm as soldiers scrambled for armor and weapons, I entered its mind. A group of Drychta a mile away from the first of the fortified stakes had stumbled onto my pet in the darkness, and my azi let them know what it thought of their insolence. The middle head caught the first of the men, killing him quickly. The other two heads sent waves of fire into the others’ path. By the time the Odalians joined the fight, only scorched, burned remains were left.

“They’re far bigger than a scouting party,” General Lode grunted. “I say this was to test our defenses. Gods be good that your daeva was here to find them, Lady Tea. How they got this close is beyond me.”