Druj’s features warped. Her transformation was swift and merciless. Her legs fused together to create a long, serpentlike tail. Her face was a terrifying specter; her hair lengthened and then darkened as brown sap dripped from it, acid hissing steam wherever the drops landed. She was almost as tall as a daeva, with insect-like eyes and incisors growing where her mouth once was. Unlike the other blighted, she retained some of her female features, a mother of some new species that no god should have ever brought to life.

The Dark asha reeled back, stunned, and the newly blighted Faceless wailed, a heartrending sound, and bounded for her throat.

25

Althy moved so quickly that I wasn’t aware of the thick bolt of lightning she sent arcing toward Kalen, but he was just as quick. The jolt sizzled against his Shield rune, glancing harmlessly against the barrier. With mounting horror, I realized they intended to see the last of the Stranger Peak’s trials fulfilled, which Kalen put together before I did. “I don’t die so easily, Altaecia.”

“I know.” Altaecia sounded so sad. “But you will die all the same. It hurts me to do this, Kalen. Dark asha were not permitted familiars until they presented themselves to the oracle. Dark asha were to be feared and hated to prevent them from forming attachments. My inability to prevent Tea from both shall be my shame and is a mistake I intend to rectify. I am sorry—more than you will ever know.”

She struck again, and Kalen parried. Druj’s eyes seemed to glow. She raised her hands and a new bezoar, the final stone not yet accounted for, beamed with an unearthly light. Somewhere in the empty shore lay the akvan’s burial mound, the beast doomed to slumber for two more years.

Why had Likh suggested we make our camp here, in the Sea of Skulls, when I should have known better? Had the idea been planted in her head when Altaecia had refreshed her stash of herbs? Why find refuge near the daeva whose bezoar I had not yet taken? The former oracle saw the question in my eyes and smiled, pleased at her culpability.

I threw myself forward, my mind colliding with hers, but as before, she evaded me with practiced agility, as elusive as fog.

The magic took hold, swirling around the bezoar. Rays of light burst forth, and we all stumbled back. Only Kalen remained unmoved, his eyes locked on Althy’s regretful gaze, even as she continued to attack, and he continued to shield us. “This isn’t happening,” I heard Likh whimper behind me.