This working of the Phoenix hadn’t spared anyone who used its power. Even the one who had called it in the first place.
That was her chance.
“Fighting…is…foolish,” Redmoon panted. “We can…get everything…working…together.”
The Herald struggled to his feet, looking triumphant, and Yerin desperately hammered on the Moonlight Bridge with her will.
But Redmoon hadn’t been talking to her.
“Down,” the Sage of Red Faith ordered.
The Herald’s face slammed into the deck.
Red Faith also staggered under the weight of the Bleeding Phoenix’s song, but he was in better shape than his twin. Heralds were supposed to be physically stronger than Sages, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the two of them. Red Faith looked like he was carrying a pack too heavy for him, but Redmoon had been squashed by an invisible foot.
“I will surrender my authority to no one,” the Blood Sage said. “Not to you, and not to the Phoenix.” He drew himself up and pointed. “Die.”
This close, Yerin could sense what was happening in detail. The madra running through Redmoon’s body rebelled, attacking him from the inside. Even his own organs and the blood aura in the air tried to kill him.
But he resisted. His will wrestled with the command, pushing against the Sage. From the time when Red Faith had tried to stop his own heart, their positions were reversed.
Until another searing bird cry broke the night, and this time, even Red Faith collapsed. He screamed as he fell, blood running from his eyes.
The pressure on Redmoon let up, but it didn’t leave him in much better condition. The Emissaries let out a collective groan, and Yerin’s own head felt ready to split.
It was hard to think, but she’d come up with a good picture of what happened. Whatever the Phoenix had done to reach so far, it wasn’t precise. It could shut down everybody or nobody.
At least, among those who borrowed its power.
“Blue,” Yerin grunted. “Time to work.”
Inside her soulspace, Little Blue heard her words, or at least her intentions. The spirit curled up, even more terrified to come out now that a Dreadgod’s power hung in the air.
Yerin was finding it too hard to speak through the headache and the pressure on her lungs, so she sent her emotions to Little Blue as best she could. She wasn’t Lindon, with a bond to work with, but Blue should be able to understand the feelings she intended to send.
Yerin was scared. And she needed help.
Little Blue was the only one who could help her.
The truth was, there were things Yerin could do to escape. She could make it out of here in one piece. She even thought she could use the Moonlight Bridge, even if just the thought of it made her skull throb.
But she didn’t want to leave. Not before she won.
Blue heard those thoughts and shivered.
Inside the ocean of red, a sapphire light streamed from Yerin’s spirit. Little Blue stood at Yerin’s side, only a foot high, uncertainly shifting her weight from side to side.
Yerin jerked her chin toward Redmoon. “Get ‘im.”
Blue scurried over the deck…then dashed back.
Yerin groaned.
“Courage!” Yerin forced out. “Grit your teeth!”
Blue chattered like a branch of shaking bells. She wasn’t running away. She’d forgotten something.
With a tug that Yerin felt in her guts, Little Blue pulled the hunger spear out of Yerin’s soulspace. Then she hurried over to the Herald.
Yerin steadied her breathing and sharpened her eyes. She wanted Blue to learn to fight, but she wasn’t about to let the spirit face danger alone.
Redmoon saw the Riverseed running toward him dragging the comically oversized spear. He couldn’t gather much power either, but he focused on her. Weakened as he was, Yerin didn’t know if he could kill Blue with just his will.
But she wasn’t about to find out.
She shoved away his invisible intentions, grappling with him like they were wrestling over control of the same technique. His eyes narrowed, and the white lines beneath them shone. Suddenly she was a Copper struggling against a bear, and it was all she could do to avoid getting mauled.
A pale hand stretched out and made a claw.
“Release!” the Sage of Red Faith commanded. The effort exposed him to the full brunt of the Phoenix’s working, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. That was enough. Yerin shoved the Herald’s influence back.
Little Blue gave one high note, like a bird’s single chirp. Then she shoved the white spear into the Herald’s side.