The grip she had on the Drowned’s throat must be preventing it from singing, because Ilandeh was thrashing to get away now, not to give herself to it, but her movements threw off Xessa’s aim and every jab of her spear missed, awkward at such close range. She dropped it and snatched the obsidian knife from her belt instead, rammed into the creature’s side and sawed. Its hide was like wood.

She had a terrifying view of all its teeth as its mouth opened and it strained towards her; its breath, cold as the river, blew across her cheek. Xessa stabbed again, missed. And then Ossa, her brave, brave Ossa, sank his teeth into the Drowned’s leg and began to pull, ripping the claws out of her padding and savaging its limb. The Drowned twisted to face the dog and Xessa tore its face open with her knife.

It turned back and swiped at her, green blood spraying, and she jerked her head away hard, fast, cracking the back of her skull into Ilandeh’s face. The claws cut through the air just above Xessa’s cheek and then the Drowned twisted again and lunged for Ossa. The dog released his grip on its leg and bounded out of reach; the eja kicked it off her, snatched up her spear and scrambled to her feet to stab it through the lung.

Ilandeh, panicked beyond reason, lurched up and yanked on Xessa’s arm, spoiling her aim and dragging her away before she could kill it. By the time Xessa had broken her nose to free herself, it was too late. With a slither and a splash, the Drowned was gone.

Xessa pivoted side-on so she could see both uphill and towards the Swift Water from her periphery. Toxte was pounding down the trail, Ekka streaking ahead. The fight had lasted seconds, though it had felt like hours in that peculiar, stretched way common to moments of terror. To left and right, the other ejab had already placed their pipes. Water would flow uphill to the city and no one was dead. This time, no one was hurt. Except her. Xessa stared at Ilandeh with vicious, all-consuming satisfaction.

The Xenti stood with both hands pressed to her face and blood leaking between her fingers. Her shoulders shook as she cried and Xessa whirled her spear around and smacked it hard into the woman’s flank. Ilandeh stumbled sideways, mouth a rictus of pain as she dropped a bloody hand to her side. Xessa pointed uphill; the woman fled. This time she neither slowed nor looked back.

About fucking time too.