Around the remnants of the tent, the emperor’s guards were strewn in every direction. Jarlath knelt by one and pressed his fingers to his neck. “He’s unconscious,” Jarlath said. “Mulaf didn’t kill them.”
Only because it is quicker to cause sleep, Bayla said.
How many deities are inside of him? Liyana asked.
She felt Bayla shudder. Six. Somayo of the Falcon Clan, Keleena of the Sparrow Clan, Vakeen of the Wolf Clan . . .
The cyclone stretched into the sky as if it wanted to scrape the moon. Liyana felt her stomach clench, and she wanted to be sick. “The sky serpents will attack once he crosses into the mountains,” she said to Jarlath. “You need to evacuate. Flee east as fast as you can.”
The emperor shouted to the nearest alert soldier, “Mobilize the army! We have to retreat!” He strode over the inert bodies of his guards and began issuing orders.
We have to warn the clans, Liyana said. She ran after the cyclone, following the path of destruction left in Mulaf’s wake.
Climb onto that horse, Bayla said.
Liyana veered toward a saddled horse. She scooped up his reins, and she flung herself into the saddle. The horse sidestepped and snorted. Liyana felt power flow into her. Bayla issued instructions: fill the lungs, stretch the muscles, pump the heart, dry the sweat. And hang on.
The horse thundered out of the camp and into the darkness. Liyana clung to his neck as he pelted the desert. She felt sand hit her face, and the wind slapped her. She poured magic into the horse’s heart, lungs, and legs. He ran faster. As the cyclone swerved, she passed it. She sent more strength into the horse’s muscles, erased his fatigue, and urged him even faster.
In the clans’ camps, the desert people were fleeing the approaching cyclone. It was headed for the mountains, straight through the camp. Grabbing children and animals, they abandoned the tents and ran. Liyana found Korbyn and Sendar in the center of it all, shouting orders. Slowing, Liyana leaped off the horse. She then used a burst of magic to encourage the empire’s horse to flee to safety.
“The emperor’s magician, the one who kidnapped the deities . . . He has six deities inside him.” Liyana gasped between words, and she rested her hands on her knees. “He is headed for the mountains. He wants to destroy the lake.”
“Without the lake, magic cannot exist here,” Korbyn said.
Without the lake, we cannot remain here, Bayla said.
“We must stop him,” Sendar said grimly. He strode forward, hands outstretched, as if he would rend the cyclone from the earth. Liyana chased after him. Korbyn followed her.
“Sendar!” Liyana said.
He is stronger than six, Bayla said, as you are stronger than one.
The cyclone stretched toward the dark sky, smudging the stars. A few yards from the churning wind, Sendar halted. He entered a trance.
“We can’t win on sheer magic!” Liyana shouted to him. “He’s too powerful! Sendar, retreat!” Wind battered against her, and she shielded her face as she pressed forward, trying to reach Sendar.
Before them, the cyclone collapsed. Mulaf plummeted and then landed catlike on his feet. Instantly Mulaf’s hand closed around Sendar’s throat.
Liyana lunged forward. “No!”
Trance broken, Sendar opened his eyes. As he clawed at Mulaf’s hand, Liyana heard a snap. Sendar crumpled to the ground.
Sendar! Bayla shrieked.
“Don’t make me hurt you, child,” Mulaf said. Liyana froze, afraid to move. Sendar was motionless. She couldn’t see signs of breathing. “Liyana, you alone I do not wish to harm. Your companion, however . . .” He tightened his fist on empty air.
Beside her, Korbyn collapsed.
“And so you will not be tempted to follow me. . . .” Mulaf swirled his fingers in the air, and multiple man-size cyclones bore down on the camp. He rose into the air, and the wind swept him away.
Liyana heard herself screaming. Inside, Bayla screamed as well. Liyana fell to her knees next to Korbyn. “Don’t die! Oh, sweet goddess, don’t die!” Bayla, magic, now!
Bayla flooded her with magic.
Liyana plunged her awareness into Korbyn. She jolted his heart once, twice . . . “Please, oh please, Korbyn, wake up.” He opened his eyes as his heart began to pump again.
Sendar, Bayla thought. Heal Sendar!
Liyana spun around. Sendar lay motionless. She leaped to her feet and ran to his side. Using the magic, she dove into his body. His neck had been snapped. She poured magic into the bones—slowly, then faster, they began to knit together. His heart! She should restart his heart. And he needed to breathe. She poured magic into him.
Suddenly his chest expanded, and he coughed.
Oh, my Sendar! Bayla’s cry nearly wrenched Liyana in two. I forgive you! I know you cared for me. And I . . . oh, forgive me!
Liyana swayed. She felt Korbyn’s hands on her shoulders, steadying her. But she didn’t collapse. Around them, the other deities fought the cyclones. She watched Maara subdue one. “The magician escaped,” Korbyn said quietly. He nodded toward the mountains. “He’s entered the mountains. The sky serpents are coming.”
Liyana rose to her feet.
Over the mountains she saw hundreds of serpents lift into the sky, their translucent bodies distorting the stars and multiplying their lights by the thousands. She also heard hoofbeats behind her, and she turned. Flanked by two men, Jarlath rode into camp. Behind him, his army marched toward the clans, across the expanse between the remaining whirlwinds.
Korbyn shoved Liyana behind him, shielding her.
“Jarlath! I thought you were fleeing,” Liyana said.
“The empire’s army will fight the sky serpents alongside the desert clans,” Jarlath said. His eyes were on Liyana. “These are my generals, General Xevi and General Akkon.” He indicated two men. “Give them your orders.”
“I don’t understand,” Korbyn said.
“Give them your orders,” Jarlath repeated. “I will accompany Liyana to stop Mulaf. He used me and the Crescent Empire to achieve his goals. It is my responsibility to stop him.”
“Liyana isn’t—” Korbyn began.
“Of course I am,” Liyana said. She was going after Mulaf. Jarlath had known she would.
“Then I am as well,” Korbyn said. He turned to Sendar. “Old friend, it falls to you. Will you protect our people? And theirs? You are best able to lead.” For a moment the two gods stared at each other. Bayla stirred within Liyana but was silent. Liyana could almost feel the years stretching between them, these age-old relationships.
“I will protect them,” Sendar said. He clasped Korbyn’s arm, and then he faced the generals. “The sky serpents have few weaknesses. Here is what we must do. . . .” He led them away.
Liyana turned to Korbyn. “How do we catch up to Mulaf? The mountains are too steep for horses, and we’ll never catch him on foot.”
Korbyn flashed a smile. “Thievery.” He pointed to one of the magician’s cyclones. The other deities had collapsed several so far. “Far easier to hijack one than to create one. Come with me!” He ran toward the closest cyclone. Grabbing Jarlath’s hand, Liyana ran after him.
“Are you sure about this?” she said to Jarlath as they reached the swirl of wind. She had to shout to be heard over it. “Your people need you, and there’s no guarantee—”
“I have failed my people,” Jarlath said. “I will not fail you as well.”
Undirected, the cyclone tore through tents, consuming the sand. “Liyana, you’ll have to control it,” Korbyn said. “We will have to ride it like Mulaf, and you are the only one of us who does not need to enter a trance to work magic.”
“You don’t?” Jarlath asked her. “Fascinating.”
“Bayla pulls the magic,” Liyana said. “I direct it.”