Port Valcane appeared on the horizon, much to Damien’s relief. The flight back had taken a day, a night, and part of another day. Even his enormous soul force was reaching its limit. When he had everyone back to solid ground he planned to sleep for a week.

Salem flew beside him, testing her strength, trying to discover if the urns had done any permanent damage. So far she seemed fine. Her dark hair blew around her face, and every once in a while he caught a glimpse of a faint smile. Damien was mostly relieved she’d stopped crying.

“You’re getting tired,” Salem said.

“I passed tired some time last night. Right now I’m somewhere between exhausted and unconscious. You did good work getting the sailors all stabilized. You have a knack for healing.”

“I’ve always preferred healing to fighting. Maishi’s the fierce one.” She sniffed, but didn’t start crying. Salem looked toward the horizon. “Someone’s coming. Someone strong.”

“My master.” He’d sensed the archmage approaching minutes ago, but was curious about how sharp Salem’s senses were. “Don’t worry, I’ll vouch for you.”

“Why? We’re practically strangers. You owe me nothing, yet you’ve been kind and thoughtful, treating me like a friend rather than an enemy.”

“The truth is you’re a sweet girl and I think David tricked you and your sister into helping him. Maishi seems besotted with him and I don’t know if I can keep her from doing something stupid if he asks her to. My hope is that if you’re with me when they do whatever they’re planning to do, you can convince her to surrender. Maishi hasn’t actually broken any kingdom laws yet. If you can make her stop you both have a future here if you want it.”

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“We’re sorcerers. We have no place anywhere. We’ll be feared and shunned wherever we go.”

Damien laughed. “Who fed you that nonsense? There are two hundred or so sorcerers in the kingdom, most of them loved and respected by their friends, family, and society in general. Only criminals are shunned.”

“But David said—”

“David said? Why would you believe anything that man had to say? He told you what he needed you to believe so you’d do what he wanted. I’m telling you the truth. You’d be a great addition to the kingdom’s sorcerers. With your gift for healing you’d be welcome anywhere.”

“Really?” She sounded so desperate to believe him. Someone had her totally convinced she was a monster with no place in society.

Damien made a little X over his heart. “I swear.”

The archmage’s eagle swooped into formation beside them. Her gaze racked the miserable survivors then came back to him. “Damien. Do I need to ask how it went?”

“It went as we expected. I brought you a present.” He concentrated and the bubble surrounding the urns flew over to her.

His master assumed control of the sphere. “What have we here?”

“Their secret weapon. The Leviathan wasn’t impressed. The urns seem to drain the wielder’s soul force at the same time they drain the target’s. I’ve never seen anything like them. Salem can tell you more.”

The archmage turned her cool gaze on Salem who flinched. “I look forward to that conversation. Where are the other two?”

“Best guess? I’d say they slunk back to Connor. They’ll be back. David was desperate to reclaim the urns. I hope you have a place to keep them. Somewhere deep, dark, and secure. I don’t know what Connor wants them for, but it can’t be good.”

“I was planning to just destroy them,” his master said. “We acquired several other dark artifacts that need purifying. Three more won’t make much difference.”

Damien chewed his lip. “Master, the way these things soak up soul force, I have my doubts you can destroy them. It would be like trying to douse a fire by throwing oil on it.”

The archmage glared at the urns, trying to unmake them by sheer willpower. If anyone could, she could, but Damien feared it wouldn’t be that easy.