I cursed quietly, wading through the thick mental mire to reach the indar’s core. Though the Deathseekers’ spells had little physical effect on the daeva, they were successful at diverting some of its attention away from me, allowing me to pinpoint the center of its thoughts. I sensed a faint struggle, some independent, reptilian aspect of its mind resisting Druj’s control.

But then the indar’s thoughts shifted. It turned from the azi, no longer interested in an offensive. It turned its attentions to the Odalians, toward the circle of soldiers protecting Kance, Likh, and Khalad.

“Protect the king!” Kalen snarled, even as I ordered the azi to block the indar’s path. But the indar threw its head back and brought its wings down in one violent motion. A fountain of black bile spewed out, arcing forward like a sickly rainbow, showering its surroundings with its poison. I saw some of the Deathseekers switch to the defensive, forming Shield runes of their own, protecting a bulk of the army from the acid. But I watched, sickened, as some were not as lucky.

Screaming, those soldiers dissolved before our very eyes as the tar ate their flesh, steam rising from their writhing bodies. “Water!” General Lode roared, and to my horror, Likh leaped forward, the wards around her gone as she sent cloudbursts onto the unfortunate victims, soaking them in a sudden flood. A Drychta lunged for her, but was beaten back by a determined Khalad, who had found himself a sword amid the chaos.

I reached out with my mind and compelled every suffering soldier I could reach, sending them into blissful unconsciousness. It was the only mercy I could afford them.

My grip on the indar slipped as I did, and I swore again through my tears, plunging back into its head and repeating the painstaking process all over again. You are weak, a voice whispered into my ear, confident enough to taunt rather than take advantage. Your compassion makes you weak, Lady Tea.

I focused my will and tried to attack, but, laughing, he slid out of my grasp once more.

The soldiers surrounding Kance were at full retreat, but the indar stubbornly raced after them, knocking other Odalians and Yadoshans out of the way. My azi stormed into its path, crashing deliberately into the other daeva just as the latter raised its hideous wings again. Kalen grabbed me, held me close as black rain spattered around us, making harsh sizzling noises as some of the Shield runes melted at the potency.

I located the indar’s core again, reached for it. There was another mind latching on, tightening its hold as it sensed me. I shoved against that presence, only to encounter resistance. I tried again.