Her body, which she had left so long ago. It was not right. Not fair.
Scrambling mindlessly along the sea bottom. Finned creatures darting in and out of sight, drawn to the stirred-up sediments, frightened away by the flailing figure. Multi-legged shapes scrabbling from its path.
A strange blurring, passed through, and then sunlight glittered close overhead. Hands broke the surface, firm sand underfoot, sloping upward.
Face in the air.
And she swept forward, plunged into the body, raced like fire within muscle and bone.
Sensations. Cold, a wind, the smell of salt and a shoreline’s decay.
Mother Dark, I am… alive .
The voice of return came not in laughter, but in screams.
All had gathered as word of the emperor’s death spread. The city was taken, but Rhulad Sengar had been killed. Neck snapped like a sapling. His body lay where it fell, with the slave Udinaas standing guard, a macabre sentinel who did not acknowledge anyone, but simply stared down at the coin-clad corpse.
Hannan Mosag. Mayen with Feather Witch trailing. Midik Buhn, now blooded and a warrior in truth. Hundreds of Edur warriors, blood-spattered with glory and slaughter. Silent, pale citizens, terrified of the taut expectancy in the smoky air.
All witness to the body’s sudden convulsions, its piercing screams. For a ghastly moment, Rhulad’s neck remained broken, rocking his head in impossible angles as he staggered to his feet. Then the bone mended, and the head righted itself, sudden light in the hooded eyes.
More screams, from Letherii now. Figures fleeing.
Rhulad’s ragged shrieks died and he stood, wavering, the sword trembling in his hands.
Udinaas spoke. ‘Emperor, Trate is yours.’
A sudden spasm, then Rhulad seemed to see the others for the first time. ‘Hannan Mosag, settle the garrison. The rest of the army shall camp outside the city. Send word to your K’risnan with the fleet: they are to make for Old Katter.’
The Warlock King stepped close and said in a low voice, ‘It is true, then. You cannot die.’
Rhulad flinched. ‘I die, Hannan Mosag. It is all I know, dying. Leave me now. Udinaas.’
‘Emperor.’
‘I need – find – I am…’