Talyn's blade met Mordath's raised arm before the ancient creature could react, and the impact sent a shock up his own arm that felt like striking solid rock.
"Persistent," Mordath said, shoving him back with strength that shouldn't have belonged to someone so visibly drained from the extraction effort. "Foolish, but persistent."
Cael broke past them both, sprinting toward Kane's chained form, while Lira hung back at the doorway, hand pressed against her chest, breathing hard.
"He's still fighting it," Lira called, watching Kane's fraying bond with her strange sensitivity. "But it's close. Too close."
Mordath turned toward the sound of Lira's voice, recognition flickering across his features. "You. I sense old training in you. Ritual work you shouldn't know."
"Focus on me," Talyn said
