“Are you there, Sally?” Mihal’s voice echoed throughout Sally’s room. “Ghenadie says that he wants to speak to you.”

Sally barely heard his words as he looked out towards the north, towards the only semblance of civilisation in the endless snow. On some early mornings she would swear that she could see wisps of smoke. And smoke meant people, people the cultists hated.

“Sally? Where are you?”

Sally stood outside the tower’s room, just before the low balcony on top of a large box. Her hands sunk through the continuously falling snow. Strangely, she could barely feel it.

“I’m…” Sally took a deep breath. “I’m outside.”

Mihal entered the room and he poked his head about. He smiled when he finally laid eyes on Sally, skipping merrily towards the door.

“Why are you outside?” Mihal asked. “It’s really cold out here. I thought you liked it warm? Is the fire not enough? We could always get you more firewood if you want.”

“I’m fine.” Sally forced a smile. “I just wanted to look at the snow.”

As Mihal moved to Sally’s side she looked down, down towards the cluster of buildings containing the tar and pitch. After discovering the horrific things in the vault Mihal had shown Sally the buildings containing the tar in an attempt to cheer her up. Sally had been more than surprised when she was led to multiple warehouses filled with pitch and tar. Mihal had misinterpreted her smile for genuine happiness, he did not find it odd that she was seemingly excited by barrels of sticky black goo.

“Did the Goblins end up splitting up the barrels of tar?” Sally asked. “Just like I said?”

Mihal nodded. “They did it. But I don’t understand how it’s going to make the buildings warmer. I mean…It smells funny. But some of the rooms do seem a little warmer now.”

“See?” Again Sally forced a smile. “It’s a great idea. And did they make sure the tar connects one building to the next? It’s very important that it does.”

“Yes.” Mihal smiled. “Only because it made you happy. You seemed so upset after we went to the vault. I thought it would cheer you up.”

Mihal nodded to the large painting hanging in the corner of her room. It was a beautiful painting but it did nothing for Sally’s mood. Though the cultists had not spoken a word about what they had been moving into the vault she knew it involved her, and not in a good way.

“You…” Sally coughed softly. “You said something about Ghenadie?”

“Yeah. He wants to see you.” Mihal shrugged. “I wish I knew more about the ritual. I really want to help more but they won’t tell me. Don’t you think that’s rude?” Mihal scoffed. “I’m going to be doing so much and yet they don’t want to tell me anything. So…So…”

Mihal stopped when he realised Sally was not listening. She stared blankly into the snow, towards the north.

I don’t know what Ghenadie wants with me…Does this mean it’s time? No one has learnt of what I had Mihal do. No one has really left the castle to deal with them…But Mihal…He isn’t just going to let me go…And then there’s whatever they’re doing to him…

“Mihal?”

“Yes?”

Sally glanced over the edge. The tower was extremely high, so high that it was hard to make out where the roof ended and the ground began.

“How high do you think we are?”

“Really high.” Mihal replied, as if it was merely a matter of fact.

“Like how high…What is that?”

Sally pointed towards the ground. “Do you see that?”

“What?” Mihal peered over the edge.

“It’s right there.” Sally pointed at nothing, a vaguely darker patch of snow. “Can’t you see it?”

“Are you teasing me?” Mihal leant further over the railing. “This feels like you’re teasing me.”

“No.” Sally laughed. “Why would I do that? But are you teasing me? What do you mean that you can’t see it?”

“I can’t.” Mihal raised himself onto the very tips of his toes. “Why can’t I see it?”

Sally stepped back. Mihal didn’t notice as his body rocked back and forth. Beneath him the box creaked but Mihal still didn’t notice. He grumbled as he could not find what she was looking at, even as she stood behind him.

I’m sorry, Mihal. Maybe we could have been friends.

Sally ripped the amulet from his neck. Mihal made a confused sound as he looked down. Sally grabbed Mihal’s legs and lifted with all her might.

But not this time!

Mihal did not realise what was happening before it was too late. He twisted as he fell over the railing, a hand flailing at Sally and grabbing her hair. She fell forward and slammed her chin into the railing.

“Sally?! What are you doing?”

Sally said nothing. The pain of having her hair almost being ripped from her scalp was so great it brought tears to her eyes. She leant over and began to punch his hands.

“Please! I’m going to fall!”

Sally punched his hands until Mihal’s hands slipped through her slick hair. Mihal screamed as he fell, quickly becoming a tiny screaming dot against the perfectly white snow. He struck the roof far below, smearing the snow in blood, then dropped to another and another before finally crashing into the ground below. Though he was now nothing more than a tiny speck Sally watched the red slowly begin to spread through the white snow.

"I...I killed someone." Sally felt the bile rise in her throat. "There's no going back now."

She clutched the amulet tight and ran for the door.

---[]---

Sally's shoes slapped loudly onto the stone floor, echoing through the empty stone staircase. She never thought she would be a murderer, that she would, could, actually kill someone. But her life depended on it. A pang of regret flowed through her veins but Mihal would not have let her go. Though they were friends he was still loyal to these cultists and his insane grandfather, Ghenadie.

"Find a stable." Sally whispered to herself. "Light the tar on fire and head north. Just do that and I'll be fine. It's easy. I just need to do it."

Sally stopped and gripped her chest. Again the pang of regret washed over her but there was no way back. Not now. She took another deep breath and continued down the stone staircase.

Which door do I take? The front entrance is guarded by cultists.

Sally ran her hand across the vile amulet.

But the Goblins shouldn't stop me with this.

The clanging of hammers striking metal began to grow louder as Sally continued to descend.

Maybe...Maybe through there. If there aren't any people...

Sally stopped at the door and peered through the cracks. Goblins continued to work over the forges, just like last time, but the Red and Black were nowhere to be seen.

"Either this will work..." Sally slowly pushed the door open. "Or it won't."

A wave of heat and noise washed over her. She scrunched her eyes, reflexively to try and shut out the noise, but it was no use.

Here we go.

Sally took a deep breath and began to walk straight through the smithy. The Goblins looked up, curious as to what was casting a shadow over them and looked straight at Sally. For just a moment Sally saw the seething hatred in their eyes, an anger that came from deeper than their heart. The next breath it faded, replaced by a forced happiness. The Goblins smiled, their skin around their lips pulled back unnaturally, before they returned to their work. Sally stood silent and still, waiting for the illusion to break. But it held.

Okay...Okay. I don't feel anything different but they hate that they don't attack me. How does this amulet work? I...I need to keep moving.

Sally walked through the searing forge as calmly as she could. She watched the Goblins throw their finished work into piles of crude weapons and armour plates. A group of Yellows hauled the full chests away, replacing them to be filled with the endless stream flowing from the forges.

Someone must know of what's happening here. Someone must be warned...Oh no. I forgot about the patrols.

A group of armoured Black Goblins moved along the centre of the forge, glaring angrily at the Goblins working the forges. Sally had no idea if the amulet would work on them but she could not flee without drawing massive attention. While she was frozen still, and still trying to think of what to do, the Black Goblins looked at her. Just like the Goblins manning the forge there was a moment where she saw nothing but anger, gone the next as they were forced by something to smile and act happy.

What is this amulet?

Sally moved around the Black Goblin patrol. They watched for a few more breaths before continuing with their patrol. She breathed easier when she reached the end of the forge. The door swung open, Sally darted behind a nearby forge and watched. Another patrol of Black Goblins emerged and walked towards the other. Thankfully they left the door slightly ajar. Sally took a deep breath and darted through. She did not look back as she ran, not knowing where she was really running. While she was walking with Mihal she had a rough idea of where to go but she had not travelled through these halls. She slowed, so her footsteps would not echo like she was running for her life, which she was.

“Don’t run. Walk.” Sally muttered. “Just act like you know where you’re going...And avoid people.” She touched the amulet again. “Goblins don’t seem to be a problem.”

Sally followed the wooden hallway, always fearing that another patrol lay just beyond. Or worse, behind her. She checked the few doors that were open but found nothing other than weapon supplies and armour. Her heart continued to drop as she counted the immense number of simple weapons that had been gathered.

Steel doesn’t burn...I don’t think I’ll have time to set fire to this place. I should have asked Mihal to move some in here.

Sally reached the end of the hallway. The air grew cold and snowflakes floated through a small open window at the top. She was so close to freedom. She gripped her fingers around the amulet and looked through the cracks. Snow greeted her, nothing but snow. No Goblins stood guard, at least as far as she could tell, and everything was still and silent. She crouched and stepped into the snow.

“Why is it colder here than up in the tower?” Sally rubbed her shoulders. “I need something warmer than this.”

Sally returned to the castle and scoured the nearby rooms. On the third attempt she found a room filled with old clothes. Though they were old, tattered and smelt funny, they were more than enough to keep her warm during the long ride to the north. She pulled them tight around her and exited once again. Now there was something outside, a group of Goblins patrolling the snowy grounds. They kept their heads down, the snow gathering on their helmets and cloaks, and did not look towards Sally as they continued their patrol.

They haven’t found Mihal yet. There’s no way he could have survived...Do they not patrol near there? The moment they find him, what’s left of him, they’re going to be searching everywhere for me.

Sally quickly recognised where she was. It was an old courtyard near the northern side of the central castle, thankfully not far from the stables. She gripped the clothes tight to her chest and hurried through the snow.

Thankfully no one spotted Sally, or if they did they thought she was just a cold Goblin seeking distant warmth. The few Goblins patrolling the walls were more interested in staying warm than doing their job, perfect for Sally. As she neared the first gate she began to slow. The large metal gate was closed and Goblin guards stood nearby, huddled around a small fire but present all the same.

Do I just tell them to let me through?

Sally touched the amulet.

That's all they seemed to do.

Sally straightened her back as she approached. The Goblins eventually took notice but not until she was but a few feet away. They initially regarded her with suspicion rather than outright hostility, at least until the amulets effects took hold and their stances softened.

"Hello."

Sally clamped her mouth shut. For a moment she had forgotten what she was speaking with. The Goblins did not appear to care either way.

"I need to get past."

The Goblins looked at one another.

"Do you understand?" Sally had not originally intended for her words to sound so demanding.

The Goblins looked at one another, shrugged and began chittering amongst themselves. One began screeching louder, a Black Goblin, and a much smaller green trudged through the small stone door. The gate began to groan as one side began to open. When the gap was large enough for Sally to slip through she took her chance and ran through. None of the Goblins followed her, nor tried to speak as she passed. Once she was clear the door began to close.

I made it! These amulets are really...So I can order them to do anything?

Sally began to walk towards the stables, a large intact building in the distance. Her eyes fell on a sticky patch of black on the nearest building. The sticky tar collected a frosting of snowflakes but not enough so it was hidden. She checked the streets for movement, nothing moved other than a few inattentive Goblin patrols, and looked behind the buildings. Just as Mihal had said the backs of the buildings were covered in tar and were connected to one another by a thin line.

Find a torch and set it on fire. There will be so much smoke they won't even know I'm gone, not until I'm far, far away.

Sally's fingers brushed against the amulet.

They'll try to put it out...What if I tell the Goblins to kill anyone trying to put out flames? Would that work? Maybe just tell them to stop anyone else from putting out the fires.

Sally took another deep breath and briskly walked towards the stable.

Someone will discover what you're up to and they'll stop you...I just hope that you're in a better place now, Mihal. I'm sorry that I had to do that but...But there wasn't any other way. They were hurting you just as much as they plan to hurt everyone else. And I'm not going to let them do that.

---[]---

Ghenadie stared at Mihal's mangled corpse. The Goblin guards had found him, covered in a thick layer of fresh snow. Thankfully they had not tried to eat him, since he no longer had an amulet, but it wouldn't have mattered either way.

"Ghenadie?" A high ranking cultist reached to touch his shoulder but held back at the last moment. "Ghenadie? The fires are still burning."

"Then why haven't you put them out yet?" Ghenadie surprised himself by how calmly he spoke. "Is there something that you want me to do to try and stop a firestorm?"

Ghenadie looked out the window. Thick, black smoke obscured everything, except for the flickers of flame erupting through.

"If you think I can personally stop these flames then you are more than welcome to."

The man stepped back and lowered his head. The few other cultists were leaders in their own right, from all over the world, but right now they were paralysed by the flames still burning outside.

They've spent generations doing nothing, while we labour tirelessly to try and bring back Trellos. Fitting that they don't know what to do in a crisis. Even the wrong thing! At least something.

"The fires are contained within the inner walls." A woman spoke loudly. "They will not spread beyond. So long as the pitch does not travel that far."

Ghenadie slowly turned towards Eluria. The Strega Witch had been strangely quiet, respectful almost, as she stared at Mihal's body.

"Pitch?" Ghenadie took a final look at Mihal before turning away. "What are you talking about?"

"The smell. I know what burning pitch and tar smells like. And the air is full of it. There are also lines between the buildings of burning pitch. You can't see it now, thanks to the smoke, but it's there."

Ghenadie began to pace back and forth.

Is it her? No. She's helping us for her stupid revenge fetish. It would only undo her work. No...Who could have done this?

A low ranking cultist ran into the room. He kept his head cast low as he approached Ghenadie.

"The stables have been raided." He whispered to Ghenadie. "We have tracked down all of the horses except for one."

"I imagine it was eaten by a hungry pack of Goblins." Ghenadie took a deep breath. "But you wouldn't be coming to me with this if it was that simple, now would you?"

"No. Some of the Goblins saw a young child riding the horse towards the north." The cultist winced. "Apparently they ordered the guards to open the gates and they obeyed."

"Who..." A rush of anger flowed through Ghenadie. "That little Graterian bitch. The tower..."

Ghenadie took another long breath, so he would not shout in anger.

"Where is the girl? She was supposed to be brought down to the vault for the next stage of the ritual."

"It honestly took you this long to realise that?" Eluria could not hide the pervasive smugness in her voice. "Honestly. I think I should just convince the Orcs or Clansmen to attack. That would be easier than this."

"You knew?"

Eluria slowly shook her head. "He was killed by the fall. Sally is locked in a very tall tower and someone small, about her age, managed to escape to the north. Need I say more?"

Ghenadie raised his finger but hesitated to speak.

It's so obvious...I should have realised that...What is wrong with me? It...It must be her. She's interfering with my head! There's no other possible reason why I wouldn't have come to that conclusion. She needs to go. She's too big of a threat to keep with me any longer. But, she may still have some use, now that Sally's gone. The Partner needs to have considerable mana in their body, like Sally, or...

"No." Ghenadie coughed softly. "No you do not."

Eluria looked rather pleased with herself.

Just you wait.

"Send out riders after her." Ghenadie told the still bowed cultist. "If you haven't done that already."

"We have. But we have still to hear back from them. We fear that she still has an amulet and can simply order them to return."

"One little girl cannot travel far in such weather." Ghenadie slowly nodded. "Send out our fastest. If you haven't already."

"I told you to destroy Atros before the winter." Eluria said. "She must have seen smoke from the city, the rapidly growing city I might add, and decided to flee to the north. If it wasn't there she wouldn't have had any hope of escape."

Ghenadie did not argue with her logic. Certainly with hindsight it was the better move but they had yet to truly establish themselves in Surdon. And if Atros launched a successful attack it could set them back generations or even destroy them, if their Mages were as strong as Eluria claimed.

"Unfortunately...It is pointless to think of such things now." Ghenadie sighed softly and held the young cultist's shoulder tight. "Go and get the Red. I want to speak with it."

"Understood."

Ghenadie leant close to his ear. "Bring every Elite we have. A Witch is not easy prey."

The cultist bowed his head furiously and ran towards the door.

"He'll do well, one day." Ghenadie chuckled. He looked to the window, the smoke was beginning to thin. "Since the fires are out, or what has burned has already burnt...Can you so anything for him?"

"Me?" Eluria stepped forward. "I'm a Strega Witch, not a necromancer. And even if I was I could not bring him back as he was. I have seen their magic and it is...disturbing, to say the least."

"I don't care if he's a little bit different, only his body matters."

Eluria smiled. "I honestly thought you cared for your grandchild. He seemed to love you."

Ghenadie shrugged. "We all have sacrifices to make. But is there nothing you can do for him?"

Eluria approached Mihal's corpse. Ghenadie waved the others back.

"I can...preserve his body. Keep it from rotting, even out of the snow."

"What do you need?"

"I thought you needed him alive for the next stage of your ritual?" Eluria gently brushed away the bloodied snow from his face. "So you would want him moving and not just be a pile of flesh."

"To be fair I didn't think we'd get this far. No one ever has. But...That's why I needed the girl. She plays a very important part in the next step."

"I wonder why she fled." Eluria muttered. "I can't imagine why."

"Can you do that at least? Please? Spare no expense. We will pay you and give you whatever you want if you do. It is very important to us."

Eluria's hands hovered over Mihal's body. Her eyes narrowed as she looked up. She clicked her tongue and began to speak under her breath. A thick, green smoke, emerged from her hands and wrapped itself around Mihal's body. While she continued to mutter the door opened and the Red Goblin, with a diminutive arm, lead almost a procession of heavily armoured Goblins.

Perfect timing.

Ghenadie signalled for the Red to move quietly. This Red Goblin was unique in that it was not only intelligent but obeyed his orders without the need of an amulet. The Red disseminated the order and the Goblins moved unbelievably quietly, far more quietly than what any normal person would expect.

Eluria's green smoke receded. Her brows were deeply furrowed and her hands trembled with exhaustion.

"His body is safe." Eluria rested her hands onto the table. "It will no longer degrade or rot, for the foreseeable future. There will be a point where it needs to be done again but not for some time."

"Thank you." Ghenadie waved the Goblins to hide in the shadows and crouch low. Eluria had yet to turn around. To stop her he stepped forward and stood next to her. "I know that we...What's wrong?"

For a moment Ghenadie feared Eluria had discovered his intent and that he was standing so close there was no way he could dodge her attack. Nothing on her face betrayed a feeling of imminent threat. Quite the opposite. She stared into Mihal's dead, glassy eyes, forever locked towards the sky.

"Anger...Fades, over time." Eluria muttered. "Especially when it won't get her back."

For a despicable witch you truly loved your daughter.

Ghenadie waved the silent Goblin horde forward. The few cultists stood still and allowed the Goblins to move around them.

Keep her talking, about anything.

"You...You mentioned her before." Ghenadie spoke normally. "Sancha. You taught your daughter the moment she could learn?"

"Yes. She was very good at Strega Magic too." Eluria gripped her fingers tight. The nearest Goblin, a Purple, was still some feet away. "Every day...But. Every day it's harder to feel that same anger. It's beginning to feel..."

"But the people that killed her still walk free." Ghenadie glanced back, the Purple was only three feet away. "Surely that lights a fire in your heart? To know that they still live and breathe while your own daughter does not."

"I know what you're trying-"

Eluria's eye flicked down. The Purple's shadow crossed her feet. Ghenadie waved the Goblins forward as he turned to run as fast as his frail body would let him. Eluria's forlorn expression instantly vanished, replaced with anger he had not seen before. The green smoke coiled around Eluria's body as the Purple lunged into the attack. Eluria snarled and threw the smoke like a giant blade, cutting the Purple in two and decapitating three of the cult leaders.

"You-"

Eluria cut her vengeful words short as the hordes pressed against her. The smoke cut through the Goblin's flesh with ease. She even tried to attack Ghenadie as he fled, who deflected it with a simple shield spell. Though it was little more than a glancing blow it nearly destroyed his magic and numbed his hand from the shock.

"No one else here has magic like Sally." Ghenadie shouted from the relative safety of the Goblin surge. "So that leaves you!"

Eluria did not respond. Instead a green glowing circle emerged around her feet.

"Don't let her get away! We'll never find her then."

Eluria smiled but did not notice the shadows crawling above her. The Goblins silently leapt from their perch and crashed into her head, though the coiled green smoke protected her it was not enough. Their sheer mass, even of those killed, collided with her and sent her out of the glowing circle. The circle flashed bright, the pair of Goblins standing in it disappeared.

"I wonder where they went.” Ghenadie muttered. He violently shook his head, remembering the situation he found himself in. “Restrain her. And make put some Ghlyirl on her! Don’t let her use any magic.”

The large Black Goblin, the diminutive Red’s bodyguard, ran towards Eluria with a small piece of the hexagonal covered metal in his hand while she continued to sputter green smoke from her struggling body and slicing the surging Goblins apart. The moment the metal touched her body the green smoke dissipated, leaving Eluria completely helpless. Ghenadie did not envy her as she struggled against the tides of Goblins. The Red snarled and most began to scurry away, the large Black held her back while the others kept her limbs pinned.

“I don’t know what made you change your mind.” Ghenadie began. “But...I still don’t understand why you helped us in the first place. We want to destroy the current world, but your revenge...Maybe you had a change of heart. Maybe.” Ghenadie shrugged. “But I’m sure you knew it would come to this.”

“Let go of me!” Eluria struggled against the near dozen Goblins pinning her. “You know that I’m a Strega Witch! When they find out that you killed me-”

“They must already know where you are, but have decided that you aren’t worth protecting. Do I really need to explain what is going to happen to you?” Ghenadie felt a strange joy in restoring that phrase back to her. “I didn’t tell you anything you didn’t need to know, just enough to keep you helping us. Oh. Speaking of.”

Ghenadie pointed to the bag Eluria always kept fastened securely to her hip. The Black Goblin ripped it free and passed it to a happy Yellow. The Yellow immediately tried to open it. The moment the creatures claws pierced the bag its head clicked up and it fell down, dead.

“A protective spell won’t stop us.” Ghenadie smiled. “We have many, many Goblins to throw at this. But thank you for bringing us this research. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”

“Let me go!” Eluria began to struggle one again.

Ghenadie laughed. “Oh, you Strega Witches are so haughty. So intelligent and wise. And yet you allow emotion to cloud your judgment so severely that you worked with us for revenge...What a useful idiot.”

“Let. Me. Go.” Eluria tried to kick the Goblins holding her legs.

"Please be quiet.” Ghenadie sighed. He ran a hand through his thin hair. “Since Sally is no longer with us and winter will not last forever we must hurry."

"Get these wretched things off of me!" Eluria kicked and screamed. "You know who I am! I will not let these creatures have their way with me."

"That." Ghenadie raised his hand. "That I can promise you. No Goblin will ever violate you. Of that you have my promise."

"Like your words mean anything to me now." Eluria spat at a Goblin, the ball of saliva landed on its lips. She recoiled when it licked it up and smiled. "Like you aren't going to throw me into those pits!"

"This...Change of heart you are having..." Ghenadie shook his head. "Very perplexing. You were more than willing to help us and now...I'm just repeating myself now, aren't I? I am truly getting too old."

The far door opened. More cultists emerged but these were different to the others. All wore leather aprons, thick masks of leather with eye holes made from glass. Sharp knives and other implements jangled lightly on their hips.

"You worry too much." Ghenadie smiled at Eluria. "They are not for you. Not at all."

She watched in silence as the new cultists approached Mihal's corpse.

One turned to Ghenadie as he began taking put his knives. "Was the grafting a success? If it was not our work here will be pointless."

The leather mask muffled some of their words but Ghenadie understood enough.

"Yes. We made sure that Trellos's Essence took hold and began the transformation. It was completed the other day, so..."

"I understand." The masked cultist snapped his fingers at the others. "We will do what we can."

They crowded over his body and began to cut away his clothes.

"What...What are you doing?"

"Hmm? Oh. Right." Ghenadie smiled. "A dead God cannot just be brought back. No. But they can be reborn, if know what you need."

The cultists forcefully ripped the few strands holding his clothes together. He was in even worse condition than even Ghenadie had feared, in some places his clothes were the only thing holding his body together. His intestines spilled out, along with chunks of flesh and clotted blood.

"But to be reborn you require two, one to give the seed and one to be a warm, protective vessel to love and nurture the God until it is time." Ghenadie smiled. "I'm sure you can guess where this is going. Right?"

Eluria already understood the moment he began speaking. She struggled with all her might but magic users were not known for their physical strength.

"Again. Don't worry."

Ghenadie smiled as the butcher cultists began to carve into Mihal's lower abdomen. They began to pull out more than just flesh. Silvery wires ran throughout his body. Each tug put considerable strain in his entire body, like there was another skeleton inside of him.

"They won't touch you either. You have my word."

The butchers carved open Mihal's arm and removed a silver skeleton hand. The silver bones twitched and gripped onto the blood smeared blade. The butcher hesitantly pried it free with another blade, unwilling to touch it even with his gloved hands.

"Though...When this is over, I'm sure you'll wish you were dead." Ghenadie smiled. "Every time this has been tried the vessel died. Normally they just use some poor random woman they kidnapped off the street...We'll see if you're any better. Okay?"

Eluria struggled as more of the silver skeleton came free.

"Despite everything." Ghenadie chuckled as he stepped away. "Know that Atros will fall, those that killed your daughter will die and extremely painfully too. Try...Try to hold onto that thought. The anger you once felt for them might just pull you through."

A Blue Goblin placed a wet rag over Eluria's face. After two breaths her body fell limp and her resistance collapsed.

"Think of this as a small mercy." Ghenadie clicked his tongue. A metallic shriek rang pierced his ears. "I wouldn't like to be awake for what's about to happen either."