Page 72 of The Sundered Realms

It looked like her fire hadn’t injured Periannolu’s defenders, thank the gods—they must have been out of its path. The outbuildings, on the other hand, and the Gate itself—

Ashes.

From one line of Thyrasel, added to a spell in an instant.

Her doing.

Had she felt powerful before? Like nothing could stop her? Because the one feeling that was beginning to set in now was an existential terror of how much she didn’t understand, and how easily she could destroy anything and everything with that lack.

Vhannor, Shry, and Damennol stood away from the guards, who were helping patch each other up while the rest sorted through the debris.

“Not many realms would have the resources for a hit this extensive, let alone the sheer gall to believe not only that this was a viable plan but that they could get away with it,” Vhannor was saying in a flat voice.

“You’re thinking Tellianghu?” Shry surmised.

“After Tellianghu, Periannolu is one of the wealthiest trade hubs in the Sundered Realms,” Vhannor pointed out. “If they were forced to withdraw from the Coalition efforts, it would be a huge blow. Can—“ He broke off, seeing that Damennol had gone rigid, and turned to face Liris, his expression still.

A band of fifteen casters had been enough to overwhelm a Gate’s entire defense of nearly fifty protectors.

The great fear of any realm, and why Periannolu’s defenders had judged this important enough to die for: with time to gain a foothold, the mercenaries—Jadrhun—could have staged an army.

Three casters and one demonic assassin on their own had been powerful enough to overwhelm all of them.

That was the benefit of being able to call for outside help. That was what the Coalition would be able to provide.

It also exposed just how vulnerable even a strong realm could be to takeover.

“We’ll talk in a moment,” Vhannor said to her flatly. To Damennol he said, “If you can find anything to tie this—“

“I’ll do what I can,” they said. “To learn how this happened and share that information with you as a token of our gratitude for your... timely aid in our moment of crisis. Though it will be more complicated without anyone to question.”

No one looked at Liris.

No one had to.

“But I doubt the government will agree to a Special Operations consultant,” Damennol said.

A Periannolu messenger had invited them in, and maybe their government would still be grateful. But other realms hearing of this would balk.

Liris closed her eyes. Void it. That was another reason Vhannor hadn’t wanted to deploy that much power, which she’d ruined.

When she opened them, Damennol was gone, and Vhannor’s furious gaze remained, the orange in his eyes practically glowing.

“You,” he said in a low voice, “are very lucky Shry is as fast as she is. You aimed away from Periannolu’s guards, but she still could have been caught.”

“Do not bring me into this,” Shry said. “I am fine.”

Liris frowned. “But I do know how fast Shry is. I obviously didn’t understand how powerful punching up that spell with Thyrasel was going to make it, but that at least—“

“Indeed.”

Some part of her shriveled at that belittling tone from him of all people, directed at her.

“Consider,” the Lord of Embhullor said, “that the middle of a battle when people’s lives are at stake is not the time for you to take risks on your own with forces you don’t fully understand—“

“Then when is the time?” Liris burst out. “When, if not when people are dying, and I can help—“

“We were helping. We were also not risking your life. And—no. We’re not doing this now. We have more work to do, and we need to go.”

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