This whole situation was all too familiar to Edeline.

  Standing just down the street from Lord Kelshir's massive house, she had to admit that it was far larger than either of her father's houses. Three floors tall and nearly twice as wide, it marked the difference between Hallowscroft and Kelshir. There was coin and status both on display here, beyond anything even she had ever known.

  Somewhere in there was Lord Kelshir, alive or dead. Edeline supposed that it did not matter which. It was the one real difference from what she had been forced to face back at her father's summer house. There, they'd entered with the goal of rescuing Lord Hallowscroft. Here, they just wanted to ensure the mantle of leadership was passed to Anthyla, one way or the other.

  "You see anything?" Myron - no, Myronel, she needed to get it correct - asked. Hamond was standing slightly in front of them, using his magic sight spell to check for signs of the Witch of Wrath.

  "No active spells," Hamond answered, not taking his eyes away from the house. "It looks like whatever fight was going on here has ended."

  Whatever the Witch of Wrath's goal was, she had to have accomplished it by this point. And yet, they all knew the truth about what that was, and what they would find inside those walls. It was a grim understanding, knowing that only dead bodies would be there to greet their arrival. It was as dark a herald to mark the beginning of Lady Kelshir's governance of the city as one could have thought up.

  Myronel gave a silent signal, and they all quickly assembled into a crude formation. Edeline and Myronel were in the front, Hamond and Nela in the back, with Anthyla and Claris positioning themselves in the center of the four. It likely would not be needed, but Edeline knew caution would not hurt here.

  The group moved up to the path leading up to the house. The cobblestone path was lined with flowering bushes, light purple blossoms in full bloom. Edeline had never paid much heed to gardening, but she didn't think these were local plants. Regardless of where they were from, they were undeniably beautiful.

  It would have made for a peaceful scene...if not for the remains of several guards scattered in front of the house. Looking back at Anthyla, Edeline saw her pained expression. Giving Anthyla a nod of reassurance, Edeline then noticed Hamond staring in the direction of the house. She turned back...and then cursed herself for missing the most important and obvious detail of all.

  Ahead of them, seated on the steps leading up to the front entrance, was the single familiar figure of the Witch of Wrath.

  "Oh, so it's you lot again," the woman spoke up, rising to her feet. "Not who I had expected to turn up."

  "We could say the same," Edeline answered, seeing no point in being polite. It was unlikely the Witch of Wrath would give them such courtesy. "What are you doing here?"

  "Setting a trap," the Witch of Wrath told them, a cold smile on her face. "Like I said, you weren't the ones this bait was for. I don't think you're knights in disguise."

  So that was the goal. It explained why she had shouted out about the First Ascension rite back then, and then the attack on the prison The Witch of Wrath really did not care one bit about the Elefae or the Aetheric Order. She was just attempting to lure the Aetheric Knights out into an open battle, regardless of who suffered along the way.

  "I suppose this could work," the Witch of Wrath continued, clearly thinking out loud. "Do tell me why you're here. It better not be to protect poor little Lord Kelshir."

  "Where is he?" Anthyla asked.

  "Hiding somewhere in there, like the coward he is." The woman gestured broadly behind her with her one arm. "Of course, you all probably know all about that. Especially you there, trying to pass yourself off as a priestess."

  Anthyla drew back, as Edeline stepped in front of her. How the Witch of Wrath knew was not clear, but it was proof enough that they could not take the thaumaturge in front of them lightly.

  "Don't act so surprised," the Witch of Wrath snapped, seeing the looks on their faces. "I know exactly who all I helped get out of that prison. She wasn't there, so she's not in the Order. Although I do have a good idea of who she really is. The question is...do any of you?"

  "We know who risked everything to stand beside us," Myronel answered, moving to stand alongside Edeline. "You certainly are not one of them."

  It took a moment, however brief, for Edeline to realize he was speaking as an Elefae now. Of course, when they last encountered her, he had not been. If the Witch of Wrath was sharp enough to note Anthyla had not been one of the Aetheric Order she had rescued, then she would surely notice that detail.

  "Ah, loyalty. Everyone's favorite blindfold." If she did take heed of Myronel, she showed no sign of it. "So let me make a guess now. You're all about to swear that you're here to make some sort of stand against the lord in the name of the Elefae, all while helping someone who has the same blood in her body and his poisoned words echoing in her ears. Am I wrong?"

  "I am nothing like him," Anthyla answered defiantly. Edeline had to agree there was no reason for maintaining any pretense about who Anthyla was.

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  "Foolish girl." An edge crept into the woman's voice. "It's who you are. Run from the truth all you like, but that blood will always be running there with you."

  In those words, Edeline heard the echo of the Episkopiate's own speech. "If enough people see you as having that potential - or as a threat to the one they see as worthy - then your choices grow few." It was those like the Witch of Wrath that he had been speaking of. The people who judged not on your desires or abilities, but solely on birthright.

  There would be no negotiating now, Edeline now understood beyond any doubt. All that remained was protecting Anthyla. Even if it meant facing the strongest thaumaturge in the entire kingdom in battle. There could be no holding back if they hoped to win.

  Edeline raised her sword up towards the sky, drawing on as much power as she could. "Get her away from here. Now."

  "So it's a fight then?" the Witch said, as Myronel pulled Anthyla back towards the street. "I'll admit, maybe you four aren't cowards. Fools perhaps, but not cowards. So, how about we-"

  "Deus volt!"

  Energy danced between the air above and Edeline's blade. Part of her was grimly amused to see the Witch of Wrath's eyes widen at the sight. For all her skill, she couldn't possibly have any experience dealing with the powerful spells of the Stormsage.

  And yet, Edeline was not finished just yet. She thought up the possibility of combining so long ago, discussed it a few times with Hamond, but had never been able to test it. But against this opponent, here and now, nothing could be ruled out. If this worked, it would settle the battle quickly.

  "Corpus volt!"

  The white energy flooded into her body, searing power filling her again and again. From her outstretched hand holding the sword down to her feet, it burst, threatening to overwhelm her. She let out a soundless cry in the direction of her opponent, and charged.

  The world blinked.

  She crashed into the wall of the house shoulder first, pain flooding down her arm. Confused, she looked over, seeing that the woman had somehow managed to get out of the way, now crouched over on the grass. No matter. She would strike true this time.

  The world blinked.

  She ran face first into the rising barrier of earth. Another pain, sudden and sharp as something pierced her side, made Edeline gasp as she involuntarily let the spell fade. Everything hurt. Her skin, her shoulder, her nose, her belly, her legs. All of it hurt.

  "Nela!" Myronel called out from somewhere off to the side.

  "I've got it!" Nela yelled back. A moment later, the healer came into view with her crossbow in hand, breathing hard from her sprint over. "Shit, what did you do to yourself?"

  "I...it..." Forcing herself to focus, Edeline tried to piece together what had happened. She had to have dashed forward just as the Witch's spell blocked her path. She hadn't thought the spell combination would leave her uncontrollably fast. Unable to stop herself, unable to even think about anything but charging forward. But that didn't explain the agony she now was struggling to fight off.

  Looking down at herself, Edeline was stunned. The sheer power of the spell had burned away a large part of her dress, leaving her half-naked. Even worse, the exposed skin was now reddened with burn marks. Aether, if she had kept the spell going...what would have happened to her?

  Letting go of her weapon, Nela reached down with one hand, and with a grunt pulled a shard of something out of Edeline's side. "You ruined your sword too?" Nela asked, resting a hand against the wound. That was it. Her blade had shattered with the impact, and a fragment had been flung straight into her body. "Panakeia logos." The wound mended, but it did little to alleviate how much she hurt right now.

  "I'm impressed." Edeline raised her gaze to see the Witch of Wrath walk around the wall of dirt. "You briefly managed to force me on the defensive. I'll admit it, you might be the most skilled I've faced since the Spellking. But not skilled enough. Tetra xiphos."

  Glowing light assembled in the air around the woman, collapsing into four swords made of magical energy. They circled idly around the Witch of Wrath as she began to walk towards them. Edeline instinctively knew the instant they were in striking range, they would cut anyone apart. This had to be how the knights and guards dies, sliced apart by this spell.

  "Ventus fugit!"

  Hamond's spell sent the Witch of Wrath sprawling, away from Edeline and Nela. The swords she had conjured remained, floated above her as she lay on the ground. Slowly, the Witch climbed back to her feet, staring at Hamond as he stood partway up the path.

  "Boy," she all but spat, "Where did you learn that spell?"

  Hamond said nothing, instead taking a few steps backwards. Of course, Edeline realized with dread. That had been one of the Spellking's own spells, and almost certainly had been used while fighting the Witch of Wrath. It would be instantly recognizable.

  This was going all wrong, in all the worst ways. As much as she hated it, Edeline knew she wasn't in any condition to get up and fight. Neither Nela nor Myronel would stand a chance against spells like this. That left Hamond to face the very threat he had admitted he feared the most - alone.

  "Not willing to say?" the Witch of Wrath remarked, advancing towards Hamond as the magic swords started to spin around her faster. "Tells me all I need to know."

  Hamond paused briefly as she got closer still, then finally spoke. "You wouldn't listen to us anyway. Ventus fugit!"

  "Gaia maceria!"

  Instead of rising in front of her, like Edeline expected, the earthen barrier emerged behind the Witch of Wrath. Hamond's spell pushed the thaumaturge back a single step, but the Witch simply braced herself against the dirt, holding her ground. The instant the wind faded, she sprinted forward.

  "Ventus fugit!"

  "Gaia maceria!"

  Again, the Witch of Wrath used her spell to prevent herself from being sent reeling from Hamond's own. Not only did she know the spells of the Spellking, she knew from experience how to counter them well. They had never stood a chance.

  No, Edeline told herself. She might be in too much pain to move, but she could still cast spells. "Lithoistos," she spoke, copying one of Hamond's other spells. A stony missile formed in the air, and shot towards the Witch of Wrath.

  One of the floating swords sped around and struck the missile down. The Witch of Wrath did not even look, determined to get to Hamond. And she was so close. Too close.

  "I'm sorry," she whispered in his direction, knowing he would never hear.

  Another voice answered her.

  "Dijed inek heka nebu ikem wenen!"

  A familiar shining shield intercepted two of the swords as they descended. The shimmering of the air followed as Ugotlas came into view, interposed between Hamond and the Witch of Wrath.

  "If that is all that you claim you need to know, then you must value remaining ignorant above all else," Ugotlas said fiercely as he looked straight into the Witch of Wrath's eyes. "The judgment of the eyes of the heavens draws near. You shall learn how high the price of such ignorance truly is!"