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A cry that cut through with such potency, Riv’s noids froze, and his blood ran cold.

The call lasted 2-3 seconds and then repeated.

Riv and his assailants, also rigid in mid-motion, tilted their heads to the sky from which it came.

A presence soared and roared onto the fissured plain before them in a mighty flurry of wind and feathers.

Riv’s eyes widened at the terrifying beauty of the creature.

He retracted his helmet, not quite believing what he was seeing.

Its glowing face was exquisite, for it was Élisa’s, complete with her chrome eye patch.

The rest of her transmuted body was like nothing he’d ever seen. It was the most beautiful yet spine-chilling hawk-like being with long silver plumage over its torso and a long flowing tail.

Its wings shone with wild, metallic chrome hues, and its lilac eye emitted a light beam so bright he held his hand over his eyes to shield them.

Its wings were spread out and over itself, making it seem even more prominent. It advanced, extending one feathered pinion to shield Riv and the other pointing at the trio.

‘Leave now if you value your pathetic lives.’

Riv shuddered. Twas Élisa’s voice, yet it had a throaty quality that captivated and enthralled.

The raiders glanced at their leader, who flung back and shook his long-feathered crest.

He bowed before Élisa. ‘It honors me to witness your plumage once more, Your Highness. I’m to return you to your Father unharmed,KintiK’Élisa. The Tempest Light, ourKírígaand King, will abide nothing less of this encounter.’

She stared at him with a dispassionate glare. ‘Akhora? Of what order?’

‘TheKubai, if you must know.’

‘A ritual elder turned into a dark hunter. This is most unusual. In any case, I will not return with you. Not now, not ever.’

The older hawk-man grimaced. ‘Then I will compel you by killing your companion.’

He raised his feathered claw and dashed it downward to the ground.

The attackers swarmed towards Riv.

Until they were cut down by a volley of projectiles that flew in their direction, slicing through them in milliseconds before quivering mid-air, blood dripping off them.

Riv’s eyes widened. Feathers. Élisa’s five nape shafts. They’d detached and were zipping through the air, clinical and razor-edged in their slaughter.

Thekhorascreeched and released its killer plumes from its tail and crest, but they, too, were incised with no mercy.

Still, the pillagers came, undaunted, and more raiders were slivered apart, falling to their deaths.

Finally, it was just thekhoraleft standing and three pillagers trembling in their sand boots.

The older Katánian lifted a feather talon and waved it at Élisa, his eyes glittering with respect. ‘You have become fearless in exile. Yourkoyasab?rs are stronger than mine. Yet you have desecrated yourself by removing the hawkstone.’

Élisa shook her head, the chrome feathers clouding her face quivering in spectacular fashion. ‘This conversation is pointless, Elder, for the hawkstone passed to its rightful owner.’

His face coalesced into confusion. ‘Who might that be? We are not aware of any other heir.’

Élisa sighed, impatience lacing her voice. ‘I will never share that information with you. Now leave, or I’ll be forced to use mykoyaagainst you.’

The older Katánian smiled. ‘Do so,Kinti, for you know my life will not be spared by theKírígaif I depart without you.’