The more I study monsters, the more I feel inclined to believe Head Scholar Panmoru is too charitably kind.

  These things were created by demons to make humans suffer.

  Does everything have a right to live?

  — Note found in Scholar Jeff's journal.

  Jyuni

  Jyuni wrung her hands helplessly, watching the healer Tasha stabilize her Mursa. Aura deficiency alone could be fixed with time or by sharing aura, but the Mursa had also suffered a blow to the head when they tumbled. Not to mention whatever damage the dragon's Domain had done to him earlier.

  She looked up as Molam and Rider Jyuyan began shouting, realizing that another group of Oasians had arrived. Judging by the golden weapon brandished by the woman leading them, it could only be the Spear of Oasis herself.

  Then their hoarse yells registered in her ears.

  "No Domain! No Domain!"

  But it was too late. The Pyramid flashed gold, and the Spear of Oasis was caught unawares by the dragon's Domain. They could only look on in vain as the dragon's aura, reminiscent of the brightest ray of Sunlight, surrounded the SpearMarshal and sank into her body.

  Jyuyan leapt onto his camel, riding towards the new arrivals without another word.

  Jyuni watched the woman sway in her saddle as though drunk, her grip on her spear weakening. After a moment, she appeared to shake the effects off, and Jyuni’s trepidation mixed with hope. The Spear of Oasis would be fine, right? The Titled One had merely been surprised by the Domain of a dragon that no one had expected to be there. Even without being able to use her full strength within the confines of the aura, the Spear still had the fresh riders she brought as reinforcements. The Sandwurms were formidable foes, but with the numbers the Oasians had, surely they could overcome this battle.

  Jyuni didn't want to imagine how much the Stewards would charge them for benefiting from Oasis' two Titled Ones. Forty thousand… no. Probably sixty thousand buckets of water. Well, if Mursa Shang haggled… no no no, Jyuni berated herself. What had he always taught her? Don't assume you need to pay for something until they try to collect, but instead have all the excuses to not pay. And if paying is unavoidable, make them throw in extras because they just want the original payment. Yes, that was the right way to go about this.

  Molam began walking away in the middle of her thoughts. Jyuni asked, "where are you going? There's nothing we can do to help right now!"

  "I know that," Molam replied to her, "I'm not going to waste my time waiting. I'm looking for my arm guard."

  Molam

  Seeing there was nothing he could do for either the Oasians or the mursashu, Molam took advantage of the ensuing chaos to retrace his steps, looking for his bracer. Or more importantly, the feather within, if just to stop the throbbing pain in his fractured arm. Everything had already gone poorly; what was pertinent now was preventing the situation from degenerating even further. And he would need every option at his disposal in order to do that.

  He still hadn't found Primrose and Kalle, though he’d thought he heard Kalle's shouting earlier. Molam hoped they were uninjured. Primrose would be necessary if they ever meant to infiltrate the Upper Tiers. Kalle was the only alchemist he had, with skills that would be invaluable in any situation.

  Wait, that was the wrong way to think about it, he corrected himself. Molam didn't care about them only because he had a use for them. He cared about Kalle because the man was a good friend. He appreciated Kalle's thoughtfulness, and the way he channeled his skills towards more than just earning coin. Even if it did mean a bizarre obsession with fixing things, Molam understood Kalle's thinking.

  And, of course, he cared about Primrose. She was a fierce protector, even if Molam felt put off by the occasional reminder that she had the skill to put a blade through his heart before he could even react. The fact that he no longer thought about it constantly when he was around her said something about how much he had come to trust her, right? Much more than the days in JiangXi, where he did his best to never be within arm's reach of her.

  Yes. Their lives were important. Priestess Komura had told him to focus on making friends. This was the right way to think about it.

  The sight of silk robes and a soft face tore Molam from his thoughts. More importantly, he saw the bright red blood soaking into the sand, and the wurm tooth tossed to the side.

  "Cholani," Molam muttered, kneeling down next to the paralyzed mursashu. The venom had already taken hold, and Cholani was reduced to a set of blinking eyes. Molam looked up, but the call for help quickly died in his throat. There was no one else around, and Cholani must have been long past the point of saving if the venom's effect had already robbed them of the ability to speak.

  Molam's body moved of its own accord, against his wishes to ignore what needed to be done. He felt for a blade in Cholani's pockets, first pulling out a bundle of cinnamon sticks. He pocketed that, then continued searching. Where was their dagger?

  "I don't know what's best to say, Cholani." Molam apologized, searching for the words as he also searched for the blade. What would a dying person want? What did he want, when he was a child? Kind words, accountability? He tried to recall what his village elder had said to him, or what he hadn’t. "But I take full responsibility. I'm sorry. None of this was supposed to happen."

  The words seemed wooden coming out of his mouth, as though he couldn't properly express what he needed to say. Stupid, stupid! He wasn't the one dying, he was supposed to be the one giving comfort. Is that what a dying person would want to hear, apologies? Could he not do even this little task correctly?

  Then he noticed the orange feather, glowing in Cholani's other hand. Molam rolled them over and found his bracer laying under their shoulder. That was when Molam saw the dropped knife. He pieced it together immediately; Cholani had hesitated. The mursashu had been torn between discovering Molam's secret and doing the necessary deed. Perhaps they had thought they would have time to convey the discovery to someone else, to get the feather in another's hands.

  But time had not been on Cholani's side.

  Molam wasn’t a fool. He knew why the Mursa had always kept Cholani around him, even back in JiangXi, when the Mursa had sent them to help Molam organize the City’s ledgers. A mursashi of Cholani's skills and experience, assigned to assist with someone else’s—someone who wasn’t a mursashi—bookkeeping? No, Cholani must have a secondary skill set, capable of finding out something deemed important enough by Mursa Shang to be worth divesting their valuable time. While the setup had been painfully obvious for both sides, the Mursa had been forced to risk it for the information. Molam had no doubt that Mursa Shang had wanted to learn any final secrets at the time, and now Cholani had found out about the feather.

  They knew Molam's status as a red auramancer was just a farce.

  While Mursa Shang was bound to secrecy, Cholani was not.

  Molam reached for the knife. The metal hilt felt oddly cool in his hand, and the blade would fit neatly under Cholani's chin. He didn't know what to say when he looked into the mursashu's eyes. What was that look? Accusation, sorrow, pain? Molam didn't know. Why hadn’t he bothered to learn more about Cholani? Did he keep his distance because of wariness, or was it something else? Just like with Jiovanni, he'd always felt there was always something more important, and so there had never been the time.

  The foreign thought confused him. Who was Jiovanni? Why was he thinking about a name on his list instead of dealing with the matter at hand? He looked down again, then exhaled.

  He tucked the feather into the arm guard, strapping it securely around his left arm.

  Yes, Cholani needed him now. This had nothing to do about silencing them.

  "I'll end your suffering now, my friend."

  Molam didn't know what to think as he did it, or how to feel. The only thought he had was a stray memory of someone once telling him to wipe the blood off a blade, lest it rust. He did so, more to have something to take his mind off what he had just done than anything else. By focusing his gaze at the now clean blade, there was no reason to look at Cholani.

  This wasn't selfish or to save myself, he thought. It was necessary to kill them. That was kindness.

  He stopped himself, almost marveling at how ludicrous the words sounded. The reason they were in this situation was because of him. Each death here was because of him. They’d had friends, families, futures, names. He had stripped all of that away, then had the gall to try to absolve himself.

  Cholani was simply the first name to be added to his ever-growing list of sins today.

  Jyuyan

  Jyuyan rode towards the Spear of Oasis as fast as his camel allowed, worried she had suffered an attack similar to the Shield of Oasis. But it seemed he didn't need to be anxious about it. Multiple auric spears materialized around her, winking in and out of existence and doing complex maneuvers in the air. She was probably testing the limits of her aura while under the dragon's Domain.

  "Rider Jyuyan," she greeted as he approached. "Fill me in. I only know so much from the rider you sent ahead. My brother is alive, but not moving. What happened after he angered the dragon?"

  "SpearMarshal," Jyuyan bowed his shaved head respectfully before answering. "We were escaping, then it seemed Mursa Shang saw us and thought we needed help. Things became complicated, and then the Sandwurms turned on the mursashu. The Shield said it was not right for us to throw our pursuers off on them, and took it upon himself to engage the giant Sandwurm." He paused, then added, "I think our ShieldMarshal was more injured by the dragon than he admitted."

  A dangerous sentiment, and one that Jyuyan wouldn't have normally said out loud. His status as a Steward's Rider didn't give him immunity from making remarks that could weaken the image of Oasis' Titled Ones. But the situation was dire and Jyuyan had already lost enough men today. He would rather risk the wurms than Ryu's ire if he were to somehow return alive, but without two Titled Ones.

  The Spear seemed to ponder his words, then made her decision. "Jyuyan. Take two healers, water, and anything you need to go see my brother. If he's struggling, bring him back. If he's able, tell him I need him to force open the monster's mouths. Do you understand? Get my brother to force open their mouths."

  Jyuyan nodded to show acknowledgement of the command, but added, "Healers won't be necessary. In fact, healers should not use their aura within the dragon's Domain. They will lose consciousness."

  The Spear frowned, then nodded. "That's interesting. Understood. So it's a matter of aura usage?"

  "Possibly," Jyuyan replied. "We haven't been able to test the limits."

  "Then take the ones you need to support my brother, deliver my message, and bring him back."

  Jyuyan nodded at the order, then pointed at the riders he recognized. "You, you, and you. Darya, you too, don't hide from me behind your shield. Jordyn, bring one more — I trust your judgment. I don't care who. Bring three extra camels. Come when ready!"

  In a few moments, the others were prepared to move out. They brought a fresh camel for Jyuyan as well. As he mounted, he could see from the way their eyebrows furrowed behind their masks that they weren't happy to be chosen, but they didn't dare refuse when he was carrying out a direct order from the SpearMarshal. Even if it meant charging past four Sandwurms and approaching the largest behemoth they’d ever seen.

  So Jyuyan responded to their trepidation in the only way he could. "SpearMarshal," he began respectfully. "We'll need every hand we have to help the mursashu afterwards."

  His unasked question must have carried through, because the SpearMarshal responded, "I will support you. If my brother can force open their mouths, we can finish and maybe even be home before Sundown."

  How noncommittal of you, thought Jyuyan. But there was nothing he could do about her decision, and the SpearMarshal's commands were to be obeyed. He looked over the riders he had selected, then nodded to them. Jyuyan memorized their faces, hoping this wouldn't be the last time he saw them alive.

  "Our goal is to reach the ShieldMarshal and support him as necessary!" Jyuyan declared out loud, then flicked his reins. "Hyah!"

  The squad moved out behind him, with Jyuyan leading the formation. Their camels were fresh and the Shield was only a short distance away.

  The only complication was the four monsters rolling around in the Sands.

  Jyuyan opted to lead a straight formation, signaling with his hands for the seven of them to travel in a line of five camel pairs. They went forward, with Jyuyan eyeing each of the four monsters as they spasmed and shifted across the dunes, mentally charting the possible paths through and around them as he rode forth. He watched each of the wurms, recognizing he was running out of time to make a decision on the best path to take. They had to either weave through the messy fighting or risk arriving too late by taking a wide berth around it.

  Four threats to track, their movements devastating, unpredictable, and deceptively fast. Five other squads to contend with for space, who were more predictable and intelligent, but they ran the risk of making similar yet conflicting decisions. And then there was the giant Sandwurm in the distance, held down by whatever strength the Shield of Oasis could currently muster — without a clear indicator for whether it would break free of its bonds again. There was also no telling if the monster would rain another hail of death upon them.

  He had to decide. Take the long way around, which may be a safer path. Or, reach the Shield as fast as possible, a choice that would be undoubtedly more dangerous.

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  Jyuyan let out a stressed huff while he charged forward, adding the crest or trough of each dune to his path to minimize the chance of their camels needing to travel on the slopes and risk an injured hoof. There was just so much for a Rider to consider, and he wasn't sure if he could think of them all while on the move.

  A careless mistake could break their formation. One wrong move had an incredibly high chance to get someone killed. And that was just with known information. Ryu always complained about there being no right decisions for a Steward, only ones that did the least damage. Jyuyan was tired of telling her that such is life, but wondered what she would pick here. Risk his riders, or risk being too late?

  In the end, he knew what they needed to do, as little as he liked that reality. Not all lives were created equal, and the Shield was a heart-wrenching reminder of that harsh fact. As much as Jyuyan cared for his comrades, the Titled One they were tasked to support was far more critical for the protection of Oasis than his riders were. With his mind still lingering on the memory of the Shield’s grave injury in the dragon’s pyramid, he made his decision.

  Jyuyan held up the hand signal to order a push forward. He led the way as close down the middle as possible, careful to pick paths that limited the possibility of a wurm's movements impacting those that followed him. The other squads must have seen his approach, and adapted their trajectories to mitigate any chance of intersection with his own group, much to Jyuyan's silent gratitude.

  But the Sandwurms did not seem to care. A large tail swung overhead. Jyuyan directed his riders down a dune's trough in a hasty maneuver, with the last man and the extra camels narrowly dodging the swinging appendage. Before the tail had even cleared, he saw a rolling Sandwurm barreling down into the tiny valley, requiring a quick turn of their group back up the dune they had just rode down from. Jyuyan looked up and yanked hard on the reins before they fully crested the dune, ducking his head while tugging downwards on his reins so his camel wouldn't lose its head to the tail's backwards swipe.

  "Stop, stop, stop!"

  Somewhere nearby, a rider hadn't stopped in time. Jyuyan heard the bleating of the camel as the rider was knocked down. He barely looked to confirm who it was. Toryuu. He'll make it, hopefully. They couldn't afford to slow down and risk losing more.

  "Forward!"

  Jyuyan crested the dune, riding hard on it for several breaths so the others could catch up. He took the time to look around, mentally registering where each threat was and how far they were to the Shield of Oasis. Three and a half dunes.

  And, of course, the giant Sandwurm held in place. He didn't want to think about what would happen if the ShieldMarshal's strength ran out before they reached him.

  So much for the promised help, he thought, casting a dubious glance at the SpearMarshal. Though Jyuyan couldn't see her well at this distance, he could still see the multitude of glowing spears in the air above her. Why isn't she helping us?

  One of his riders shouted at Jyuyan to take cover. He looked up, seeing the Sandwurm crawling up the other side of the dune to meet him, maw open slightly in anticipation.

  Oh, thought Jyuyan as fear and regret coursed through his body. Even if it was ambushing, it's my fault I wasn't paying attention. The mouth of the beast opened fully and Jyuyan dragged his reins to the side, knowing it didn't matter. He hadn't been carrying a shield, a fact the monster was more than willing to exploit.

  Golden spears streaked through the air, zipping right past him and flying straight into the monster's hungry void. It reared backwards as though surprised, letting out a horrendous keening. Its movements became berserk, erratic, with the head knocking side to side. Each slam threatened to knock Jyuyan off his camel. It was all he could do to just stay on his mount, and he prayed to God Sholt that the animal was well trained to keep its footing in battle.

  Moments later, the Sandwurm keeled over to the side, still twitching in its death throes. One more beast down, courtesy of the SpearMarshal. His other riders cheered, waving their hands ecstatically.

  But Jyuyan didn't like how she used them as bait. Yes, there was little recourse if she couldn't exert a full Domain to give her the strength to pierce the scales of a Sandwurm. He still didn't like it, all the same. Perhaps it had something to do with how she didn't tell them. That was the problem. Everyone today had demonstrated a lack of basic communication, starting from that blasted idiot deciding to approach the horned woman in the Black Pyramid without communicating that to anyone else.

  However, there was little time to dwell on this thought. He cleared the next dune and saw the ShieldMarshal standing there, deeply focused in concentration. The man was without his camel, possibly because it had died somewhere, but Jyuyan suspected he didn't see a carcass because he had more likely let it run off to safety.

  "ShieldMarshal!" he shouted as he led his squad up to the Titled One. His camel was slowing down because he had pushed it too hard. Jyuyan hoped they wouldn't need to do any more speedy maneuvers. He wasn't sure the poor animal could keep up.

  The large man turned, the arm that had been injured in the pyramid dangling limply from his shoulder. What should have been free-flowing blood from the wound had already dried from the moisture-stripping heat. His dark skin seemed decorated with bright white flecks, which Jyuyan knew from experience to be crystallized salt from his sweat.

  "Jyuyan," came the Shield's low voice. "Is my sister here?"

  "Yes," Jyuyan nodded. It would normally be improper for Jyuyan to address the Titled One while saddled, but he did not want to risk being on foot, and the Shield was never one to care for decorum. "She asks for you to force open their mouths and she will deliver the killing blow, sir. If you cannot, we are to escort you back to the main host, where we will do our best to retreat."

  "Water?"

  Jyuyan unslung his own waterskin, handing it to the Titled One. "Someone come see whether we can dress his wounds until we bring him to a healer elsewhere," he shouted, but was immediately overruled.

  "Stay on your camels — all of you." The Shield of Oasis barked at the riders behind Jyuyan, who were in the midst of getting down. He then turned back towards the giant monster he kept imprisoned, sipping some of the water before speaking again. "I don't have the strength to restrain them while forcing their mouths open. Jyuyan, if this fails, take your riders and leave. I want as many of you to survive as possible, understand? That's an order."

  Those words alone reminded Jyuyan why he had agreed to come for the ShieldMarshal without much complaint. Jyuyan pressed his camel forward several steps with a knee. "With all due respect, ShieldMarshal," he bowed his head towards the Titled One. "We cannot afford to lose you. Steward Ryu would hang me by my ankles until my bones dried out."

  The Titled One sputtered out a bit of laughter. "She only picks on you because she knows you can do better. Don't let the Steward down now."

  A golden spear flew towards them, burying itself in the sands. "And that's my impatient sister," the ShieldMarshal muttered, resealing the waterskin. "Well, water doesn't wait to flow downwards, and neither should we."

  "You should get on a camel, sir." Jyuyan beckoned to one of his men, the one responsible for bringing the three extra mounts. They whistled, and a camel trotted forward. He immediately regretted his decision when he realized the ShieldMaster was only able to use one arm, and a less charitable interpretation was that he was insulting the Titled One. "ShieldMarshal, I meant for the camel to help you ride with us in case things go awry. I only meant for —"

  "You're fine." The Shield of Oasis pulled himself onto the camel's back, clutching the reins with his good hand. "Stop acting like you're wading through quicksand. You've been spending too much time with the Upper Tiers."

  A second golden spear buried itself in the sand.

  "Yes, yes," the Shield muttered, then looked towards Jyuyan. "I hope you and your riders are ready."

  Jyuyan and the rest nodded, albeit a bit reluctantly. Releasing the remaining Sandwurms was one thing; not allowing the giant one to make a move was another. So far, this had been a relatively contained — if unprepared for — disaster. The monsters left from the Eternal Night had wreaked more damage in the past, and Jyuyan wasn't keen on seeing the situation worsen. If this didn't work…

  "On your guard," said the Shield, then he pushed upwards with an open palm. The golden barriers restraining the wurms slid upwards on their bodies, forcing their heads to face up. In the next moment, the Shield had clenched his open hand into a firm first, then slowly forced his fingers to open, visibly wincing all the way.

  The remaining beasts thrashed about on the Sands, screeching wildly as their snarling mouths were forced open from the barrier within. They seemed to only just realize their bodies were now free; the giant one rolled over and turned its body in such a way for Jyuyan to know their group was the target.

  He yanked the reins to the side on instinct, the word emerging from his throat. "Ride—!"

  Then a series of golden spears shot straight into the monsters' mouths, their light resembling a flowing ribbon. The projectiles easily pierced through the backs of their heads. Each of them roared in furious pain, attempting to writhe, but only able to move their lower bodies. The ShieldMarshal grunted, listing to the side as his barriers kept the Sandwurms held in place. They fought his hold, then one by one they went limp. The large one died the slowest, bellowing its pain into the skies.

  "That was… a lot easier than I thought?" Jyuyan breathed a confused sigh of relief. He could see why most armies deployed two Titled Ones; one for attack, one for defense. The Cannon and Vanguard strategy, made popular by a similar scheme in dragon chess. "Is it over, ShieldMarshal?"

  "They're dead," the Shield confirmed, then frowned at his camel as he tugged at the reins with one hand. "I never appreciated it, but two hands are definitely better than one."

  Jyuyan gave him a wry grin, then loosened the cap of his waterskin and offered it to the man. "A job well done, Marshal."

  "I'll return the favor," the man replied, accepting the waterskin with a nod. "Come find me after the expedition."

  Jyuyan waited, signaling to his squad that they should be patient. They'd accomplished their mission. The monsters were dead or dying with their brains pierced through. The only lasting concerns were whether the golden dragon inside the Pyramid would reappear, but it hadn't followed them outside of its Lair. He could only hope it would stay there.

  Why, oh why, had Ryu insisted they do this job? Wasn't the threat of disturbing a dragon more than enough?

  Then the ShieldMarshal dropped the waterskin, pushing an urgent hand upwards. Aura formed a barrier above them, then the man dragged his hand downwards to form the walls. Jyuyan barely had time to blink, looking upwards to see the falling teeth.

  Two thoughts went through his head.

  I get to live.

  Then,

  How many will die?

  Jyuni

  "They did it!" Jyuni jumped up as she saw the stream of golden spears pierce through the giant Sandwurm. She was ecstatic; there was no other word for it. Titled Ones indeed! Even limited by the dragon's Domain, the Shield and Spear of Oasis were still capable of working together to take down the monsters.

  "Stop jumping," her Mursa complained, nursing his head and drinking from her waterskin. "Didn't I teach you to always retain your composure? And did you forget that the footing is always uneven on the Sands? You might twist an ankle."

  Jyuni caught herself mid-jump, landing on an awkward hop. "I'm sorry, Mursa. It's just… it was a hard fought battle."

  "No doubt, but celebrations can be done later. You were in the middle of filling me in: What else happened while I was out? And where are the healers?"

  Collecting herself again, Jyuni knelt down to speak to Mursa Shang. If you don't know what face you're supposed to present, then stay passive. Give out no information about your thoughts. "The first thing you should know is regarding the healers," she began after finding her passive face, hoping it would suffice. "Is that any attempt at healing causes them to also faint. It seems the amount of aura required to heal is enough to trigger the dragon's Domain."

  "That's not good." Mursa Shang's face went dark, then he immediately added, "Which means… the ones who are poisoned? They can't…?"

  Jyuni shook her head, biting her lip behind her mask. The Mursa's question evaporated her earlier excitement, replaced by the grim reminder of what had already transpired. Many had been poisoned. So many of her friends had been forced to wield the knife as a result. And she was supposed to stay calm? No, no, no, she chided herself. Mursa Shang had always taught her to regulate her emotions if she intended to be an effective Mursa one day. She had to stay calm.

  The others needed her to stay calm.

  "How many have we lost?" asked her Mursa in his soothing voice. Ever cool-headed. Mursa Shang always knew when it was right to place blame or responsibility, and when it was more important to look after his people.

  Nevertheless, Jyuni lowered her head. "I… I don't know the count yet," she admitted. "I'm sorry. I'm still taking it all in."

  Mursa Shang's voice turned sharp. "What about the Dao?"

  Others would have thought the sudden change brusque. Not Jyuni — her Mursa had invested a great deal in the Dao. It would be a near incalculable loss for their caravan if the members of the Dao died. "As for Molam and his group… I believe Primrose and Kalle joined a squad at Meera's request. Molam… walked away? I think he was searching for something."

  Her Mursa gave her a look, one that Jyuni only ever associated with mild disappointment. "I imagine it must have been a hectic situation for you to forget to track him, Jyuni."

  She lowered her head even further. "It's as you say. I was more concerned with your health at the time."

  "Ha," Mursa Shang snorted, then flicked her forehead. She pulled back, bewildered at the light punishment. "You need to find the right balance. And not just in focusing on separate priorities, but also in how you seem to stay passive all the time."

  Jyuni pressed an indignant hand on her forehead. It didn't hurt as much as it irritated her. How could he go from gentle, to sharp, to playful just like that? "You're the one who —"

  "I know, I know." He held up a hand and lowered his head in mock forgiveness, then smiled slyly up at her. "I'm the one who taught you that exhibiting emotions can be a weakness, but it can also be a strong tool. Ah, maybe I'm just a poor teacher? I really wish you could have met Mursa Gailscha. She would have been able to teach you much better than I."

  Jyuni pressed her hand into his offered one, forgiving him despite this being the thousandth time he’d weaponized his apparent "lack of teaching skills" against her soft heart. "Maybe you should practice with me some more," she said in her flattest voice. "Instead of making me watch you fumble with that Madam."

  "You're still harping on about that?" Mursa Shang sighed at her. "You know, it was intended for you to learn the options available to women during a negotiation, things that I can't really show you as a man. And you know it's difficult for us to practice seriously these days; we know each other too well. Oh, I have quite the idea! When the time comes, you should practice dealing with Molam and —"

  Mursa Shang's gaze jerked upwards, confusion crossing his face for a split second. Then his eyes widened, and he yanked Jyuni down towards him before she could even yelp, covering over her body with his own.

  "Wha — ?"

  She saw his hand stretch out, writing a rune of gold in the air in hurried strokes. The rune for protection had barely formed when the deadly hail rained down on them. Jyuni recognized the sound, even though it had been fairly different when she’d been cowering under a wooden sled. This time, the sound was much more muted as the sharp objects bounced off of Mursa Shang's back and arms.

  It seemed the rune of protection had worked. Mursa Shang had protected himself, the most important member of their caravan, and then used his body to shield her, the second most important one as the Mursa's designated heir. She could immediately see the logic but wouldn't have trusted herself to have thought it up in time, much less act upon it. Even if his rune had failed, the Mursa had enough aura as a Titled One to restrain the Sandwurm's venom within his body.

  Jyuni couldn't help but feel a renewed wave of admiration for the man who had fostered her and raised her to be who she was today; of course he would have come up with the most correct action in such a short amount of time.

  By the time the last deadly tooth buried itself into the Sands, Jyuni's neck was beginning to cramp. Or at least, she attempted to focus on the soreness in her neck because she could not cover her ears; her mind had picked up the underlying sound of wailing, moaning, and screaming surrounding them. How many more were scrambling for their knives? Which of them were already paralyzed?

  "Get some water for yourself, Mursa." Jyuni tried to push herself up. "People need help!"

  "Jyuni, don't." Mursa Shang warned her, but she shrugged him off. "We don't know if —"

  "No, you don't understand!" She stumbled to her feet, shaking off the Sands. Countless numbers of the sharp teeth were buried in the dunes. Most of them laid on their sides, but several were sticking upwards like a reed; if reeds were this dangerous. "There's only so much time to hear someone's last words!"

  "You can't help them! Stay here, your Mursa has spoken!"

  Jyuni pulled out her blade, wiggling out of the small ditch they were in. She peeked up at the bright sky, then turned to him. "There's nothing else falling, and I'm not a child to be looked after anymore," she chided him, trudging upwards. "The danger is over, and your people—"

  The sand underneath her feet caved in. Jyuni fell forward with her arms flailing on instinct, trying to stabilize herself without falling onto several of the Sandwurm teeth. She managed to twist her body to the side, stopping her fall with a hastily thrown out hand.

  "There. You see?" Mursa Shang tutted. "You need to take care of yourself first before you can help anyone else. You haven't mastered controlling your emotions yet, which will always have a negative impact on your decisions. This is why I'm so… Jyuni?"

  Jyuni turned around, trying to still her beating heart. She raised the hand that had cushioned her fall, showing him the bleeding gash from her wound.

  Mursa Shang's face went white, looking beyond her to see the red staining the Sands, and the half-buried tooth that had just sealed Jyuni's fate.