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Usko’s hand fell to his side. The dagger dropped to the earth, silent. All around him, the other Chosen lowered their weapons, while the little candles of their hope flared brighter. Usko rubbed his face in his hands, then peeked up at Verve. “Can I… come with you?”
More tears sprang to Verve’s eyes. She smiled and held out her hand. “You’d better.”
One of the Chosen cried out in alarm. Verve whirled in time to see Ellory, bleeding and still in her ummaroc form, barrel toward Danya, who was trying to slip away again. Sudden horror erupted from Danya, but she had no time to run. A few of the Chosen leaped to defend the priest, but the sickle-drake was fast, too fast; Ellory dove past them and fell upon Danya. The priest screamed one last time. A single snap of the ummaroc’s jaws, and Danya was gone. Ellory drew up, blood coating her muzzle, a fresh scar streaked along her snout, and looked over at Verve.
The attack had happened so fast, Verve barely registered what was going on even as her gaze fell on crimson blood marring the pure white side of Danya’s cloak. The sudden absence of Danya’s presence was like the moment after a blow; she felt nothing but a faint tingle. No doubt pain would come soon enough.
Ellory stared at her, then slipped into the palmettos, and out of sight. Verve sensed the shiftling’s roiling emotions but cast them out of her mind. Ellory had made her choice. Some of the other Chosen converged on Danya’s body, but no one wept.
A warm hand rested on Verve’s waist, and she leaned into Alem. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I only managed to heal Ellory a little. I didn’t think she had enough fight left in her to…”
“It’s all right,” Verve replied when he trailed off. “You did a good thing.”
Hadiya, Klaret, and Kyon came up beside Verve. “What now?” Hadiya asked as some of Atal’s Chosen milled around their former leader.
Verve glanced over at Usko, who was one of the many who’d not gone to Danya’s body. He gave her a small but hopeful smile, which she returned. To Hadiya, she said, “We’re going home.”
