Page 72 of The Witch who Trades with Death

Chapter Seventy-Two

Neta

Neta gasped awake, choking on blood and pain. A swirl of color blinded her, and as her wet breaths came easier she heard the chief’s sharp order of, “Get back! Give her some air!”

It took a moment for the pain to end, her breathing to come easy, and for the colors to disappear. When they did, she saw Khana beaming down at her.

A second later, memories of dying in Athicha’s arms slammed into her, and she scowled. “I told that bitch you weren’t allowed to give up – oof!”

She was dogpiled by her mother, Athicha, Sava, and half of her unit, all while Khana laughed and protested, “I didn’t! I didn’t give up anything! They did! I swear.”

Neta managed to claw herself free from the pile, though Varisa and Athicha didn’t fully let go of her. She got up on a knee, getting her bearings. They were back in Pahuuda? And it was just past dawn. The behemoth Xopil had tamed napped on the field a few paces behind her.

“What do you mean?” she demanded.

“Athicha and Haz found a loophole,” Khana said, grinning. “I off-set the cost to all those who volunteered to bring you back.”

That… was a lot. Neta knew if she stopped to think about that for the time it deserved, she’d break down in tears, in public, so she pushed that aside for now.

“The emperor?” she asked.

“Dead. And not ever returning.”

“Lueti?”

“We’re reviving her next.” Khana stood and held out a hand. “Want to help?”