There was a blur of red and gold, then the tail struck the ground harmlessly, missing its target. The Dark asha had dashed forward and dragged her brother to safety, but not without a price.

Another howl cleaved the air, but this time it was from Lord Kalen when he saw her stagger and fall. The soldiers surrounding the Faceless stumbled, a few disintegrating, but Lady Zoya was quick to take advantage. Despite her earlier warnings to Lord Kalen, Wind curled around Druj’s tail, forcing it deep into the sands to keep it from seeking out another target.

The daeva hesitated, and while I could tell the asha remained linked to them, she no longer had a hold over them. For a moment, they twisted their heads to and fro in confusion, not used to the lack of Compulsion that goaded their actions. The Faceless shrilled, shaking off the rest of the undead Drychta.

The azi attacked the Druj beast first. Its three heads sank down, heedless of the poison and its own pained roars. The decision made, the rest of the daeva joined in, teeth snapping and limbs flailing as they fought to defend their mistress.

Part of the Dark asha’s hua had dissolved, and she was clearly in pain. The flesh on her shoulder had been burned off, and I had little time to see how deep the damage went before Lord Khalad appeared, blocking her injuries from my line of sight, frantically working to heal her with the Deathseeker.

Druj’s bile stripped the Drychta of their flesh and charred their bones, but despite the agony, the daeva hung on, grips tightening. For now, with the daeva attacking all at once, the creature was immobile.

“You idiot.” Lord Fox’s face was a wreck; the poison had eaten into his cheekbones and the curve of his jaw, showing more bone than skin.

The bone witch’s quiet laughter was tucked in between soft mews of hurt. “No more than you.”

“Hush,” the Heartforger instructed, ripping cloth from his own robes, mopping up as much bile as he could and tossing the remnants away as the poison burned through the fabric. He ripped more strips.

“C-can’t,” the Dark asha gasped, gently pushing herself out of Lord Kalen’s embrace. “Khalad, see to Fox. I have to end this, as I promised.”

26

I continued to sing for what seemed like hours, long after Kalen’s body turned cold. The azi had quieted, watching me with golden eyes, tired of taking so long to die. Its body continued to spasm, and it wept.

As my song drew to a close, the beast drew a deep, warm sigh. Good-bye, it whispered into my head, and then it crumbled into ashes. All that remained of it was the bezoar at my feet, shining a bright, immutable silver.