There were certain similarities between this blighted beast and Garindor’s assistant, but there were marked differences too. This one was insect-like and taller, seven or eight feet at the most. It had leathery, mothlike wings that beat futilely at the air behind it. Three pairs of large beaks sprouted along its chin, and its hands were like crab pincers.

Fox raced forward on Chief, drawing his sword and blocking the creature’s attack, giving Ostry ample time to drag Levi away to safety. “Aim for its head!” I heard Kalen shout as more Deathseekers arrived.

The creature let out a heavy wheezing sound and tried to attack again with a pincer. Fox moved to obstruct it again, and Chief reared up to give the monster a swift, hard kick to the face. It stumbled back, and arcs of fire—courtesy of the Deathseekers—sailed toward the creature. The blighted squealed. Its leathery wings folded around its hideous frame, and the flames burned uselessly against its hide. I felt the shift in the air when Kalen summoned cold runes instead, but they had the same effect. The ice seemed to melt even before it touched its wings.

Fox slid off Chief and moved in closer, hacking at the furred feathers with little effect. Frantic, I tried to throw myself into the creature’s head and encountered resistance.

In the past, that meant another mind was in charge. Faceless like Aenah and Usij were fond of such tactics. But here I could detect no other thoughts, could find no outside forces commanding its actions. Instead, I felt a roiling, red hate that drowned all cognitive thought. It was the same malevolence I’d felt when I’d tried to control Yarrod. Whatever Sam Fallow was before this transformation, he was long gone.

It’s not submitting to me, Fox!

Keep an eye on Kalen and the others, and make sure they don’t get too close was Fox’s reply as he swung his sword the instant the creature reemerged from its grotesque cocoon. The blade bit through an extended arm, hacking it off at the elbow. The creature wailed and retreated. “Kalen, the wings might be impenetrable, but the rest of it isn’t!”

“How are we gonna hit it if it keeps cheating?” Mavren demanded.

“I have an idea.”

Don’t you dare, Fox! I screeched.

You’ll fix me up once we’re back, right?

The creature’s wings lifted again, but this time Fox slid nimbly into the small opening it presented, disappearing from view as the wings snapped back into place around him. Almost at the same time, I felt the Veiling rune between us flare to life. The wall was up before I could stop him.

Fox! I hammered at the barrier he had created. Fox!