Hamond was starting to wonder if Edeline was too attached to her sword skills.

  "Lithoistos," he said, sending an earthen spike past Edeline to impale one of the snake creatures. He wasn't certain he could use the four missile version without risking hitting Edeline, but it was easier to be accurate with one. He could give her that much help, at least, and trust her to handle the other one. If she got bitten...well, if they had to stay a few days longer in Lasfont so Edeline could recover from the venom, they would do just that.

  The expanding watery mass engulfing the Sluice was the bigger threat anyway, as much as worry tried to pull Hamond's attention away. He had no spells capable of moving or evaporating such a huge amount of water. He'd never really learned much in the way of swimming either. Not that trying to swim through magically infused water being controlled by a hostile thaumaturge was a particularly smart idea.

  Maybe the sphinxes would know something. "Do you know a way to get through?" Hamond spoke up.

  "I have never seen heka mastery like this," Taeseger said, "From the beginning, we were outmatched. How did we think to contest with this?"

  "It is formidable," Ugotlas admitted, then paused. "And yet, improvisation is its own brand of power, one that I have seen wielded quite well. I am willing to attempt an unusual usage of some of my training here, but I will need aid. Do you know the spell to hold up collapsing stone?"

  "I know of it, but have had little reason to make use of it." Taeseger hesitated a moment, looking over in the Sluice's direction. "How will this assist us here?"

  "If we cast it simultaneously, layering our heka, it should hold off the water enough to create a passage." Ugotlas's gaze shifted to Hamond. "Then he can approach the Sluice."

  "Would that even work?" Taeseger wasn't the only one with doubts. Supporting falling rocks and debris was one thing. The liquids the Sluice called could just flow around and into whatever hole they made.

  "It will only provide a short opportunity," Ugotlas admitted, "I do not see any better options, and I doubt you do either. As long as Hamond moves quickly enough, it should work. Are you prepared to begin?"

  Hamond had his reservations, but a quick glance at Edeline - who had just dodged a pair of bites from the multi-headed snake creature - told him there was no time to waste. "Do it when you're ready."

  "This is madness, but very well." Taeseger took up position alongside Ugotlas. "Together then."

  The voices of the two sphinxes rose in unison. "Dijed inek heka tua rudjet rudjet wenen!"

  Twin nets of golden rope extended into the watery sphere, pushing their way through. A round tunnel formed in the water, outlined with the spell's glow. Even from here, Hamond could see it extend into the center, where the resulting light shone on the statue, marking their goal. While the barrier continued to grow, the spell held for now. However...

  ...the opening only came up to Hamond's waist.

  Cursing his luck, Hamond dropped down and started to crawl forward. He really wasn't used to moving on his hands and knees like this, and it felt painfully slow. He was rushing as fast as he could, but there was only so quickly he could move like this. He hoped it would be-

  He felt the water splash his ankles.

  Knowing he likely only had seconds, Hamond flung himself forward, reaching desperately to touch the statue. If he fell short, if the water caught and engulfed him, it was over.

  The water sprayed across his back.

  His fingers brushed the Sluice's foot.

  "Katharsis logos!"

  The chamber exploded with light, even as the water crashed down and pulled Hamond away. Faintly he felt his body tumbling and swirling uncontrollably, but that was so far distant from the visions in his mind. Images and voices both, echoes of the Sluice threatening to overwhelm him.

  Above it all, a single voice resounded through the chamber, air and water alike.

  "Without their goddess...what...will..."

  Hamond's back slammed against one of the walls of the cavern. Pinned there, he could only hold his breath and wait for the water to drain out. Just a little longer...hold on...hold on...

  After an eternity, the flood drained away, and he slid down to the floor, gasping for air. Aether...he felt astonishingly sore. Sore and tired, which only made it harder to focus on the here and now. The remnants of the Sluice's mind were tangled with his, twisting his thoughts back through years he hadn't lived, away from the damp and dripping cavern.

  Away from Edeline.

  Hamond forced himself to stand, taking in the scene in front of him. The Sluice's statue was gone, just as were the two sphinxes, the snake creature, and Edeline herself. They all had to have been swept away down one of the many tunnels. Where they were, and how he was going to find them, Hamond couldn't answer.

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  "Edeline!" he called out, voice rough. "Edeline!"

  A familiar cough answered him. Hamond's gaze went over to one of the far tunnels, where a faint light was shining. He stumbled over in that direction, still feeling a little short of breath himself.

  Sitting against the wall under the glow of her spell, a few paces down, was Edeline. She was hunched over, shaking slightly and otherwise looking miserable. It wasn't just her, as Hamond realized he himself was chilled. It was cooler down here than above ground, and with the pair of them soaked...they needed to warm themselves, and quickly.

  "Hamond," Edeline said breathelessly, looking up at him. "You...did it."

  The old fragments of his limited healer learning came back to him, telling him there was only one source of warmth they could offer each other. Dropping down next to her, Hamond embraced her tightly.

  "What are you doing?" Edeline asked, astonished. "What's wrong?"

  "Got to get warm." Hamond knew it wouldn't do much with the clothes soaked, but it should be good enough for them to recover so they could get back to the surface. If only he had learned a spell for producing a sustained fire...but such spells were almost too dangerous. Then again, so was every task they attempted, wasn't it?

  "Myronel would tell us...we need to take our tunics off to let them dry," Edeline murmured, "Not sure there's anywhere here where that would work."

  Right, Myronel had tried to give them a lesson on that one time. It was a bit hard to recall, especially with the flashes of memory left over from the Sluice. At least Hamond didn't think he'd been affected as strongly as Edeline had in Hallowscroft. He was willing to bet the water sweeping him away had kept him out of the worst of it.

  He was already starting to feel better, whether from Edeline's body or Edeline's presence. Between that and their victory here, it was a relief to know they'd be able to relax for at least a few days. It would be a rest well earned, both for them and the survivors of Lasfont. The Sluice was gone. The threat of anyone else being forcibly transformed into a beast was gone with her.

  A hissing sound interrupted his thoughts of celebration. Both he and Edeline scrambled to their feet as the remaining serpent, having also survived the surge, came slithering down the passage towards them.

  "Ventus fugit!" The burst of air knocked the creature back a distance. Disoriented, its heads twisted around for a moment before focusing on Hamond. For a moment, he thought a flicker of fear showed on the human face. Whether it was a sign of the person still being inside that body, or simply the instinct for self-preservation, he couldn't tell.

  Then the snake creature turned away and fled back into the Sluice's cavern. Whether the solution was sealing off the tunnels or hunting it down, it was a problem for another day. They'd done all they had promised, so who could fault them for letting this one be?

  "Dijed inek heka seshep sheser sheser wenen." Or Ugotlas could simply slay it. Hamond was really too drained to care all that much.

  A moment later, Ugotlas and Taeseger rejoined them. If anything, they looked even worse than Edeline, manes hanging limply around their heads. It especially showed on Taeseger's face, frustration and humiliation at war in her eyes.

  "Forgive me for desiring to never undergo something like this again," Taeseger all but spat the words out. "That I was told to promise that we would attempt to contain such heka...how blind were we all?"

  "In that, we are agreed," Ugotlas said, "I will admit that my first thoughts on seeing Lasfont were ones of despair. And yet..." His gaze went over to Hamond. "They persisted, undeterred by such power."

  "I wouldn't say that," Hamond noted quietly. His fear for Edeline, for the two of them, was just as persistent.

  "Regardless of what trials may come, how can I not do the same? So let the trials of this land, now seemingly my home, come."

  "Are you saying you want to come with us?" Edeline asked cautiously. Hamond wagered she was taking Myronel's response into account. Her brother would be so frustrated if that were the case.

  "Though you may want my company, I am afraid I must decline. The damage wrought to Lasfont and its people is in part the fault of the Sekhmati. I intend to offer to remain here and continue to offer my aid in protecting those that are left."

  Compassion from Ugotlas, then. Hamond couldn't say he'd expected it, but it would be welcome, especially with Takhat still laid up in bed. Not just in defending the place either, as no doubt Ugotlas had plenty of useful spells to bring out in support of any given task. The one issue would be convincing them to accept such aid, but after what they'd done, Hamond didn't think that would be difficult.

  "Having your assistance in this regard would be welcome," Ugotlas continued, attention now back on Taeseger. "I cannot guarantee what lays beyond this, but you are unlikely to find much trust or welcome elsewhere in Hyarch."

  "That is unsurprising." Taeseger shook herself, spraying drops of water across the tunnel. Both Hamond and Edeline ducked back. "Very well. I will aid in paying back the debt our fellows incurred, at least for now."

  "Thank you," Edeline offered.

  "It would be ideal for you as well, considering no doubt you plan to leave soon." Ugotlas started to pad away. "While on the matter of leaving, let us head upward. I am eager to see sunlight again, and I believe you all are as well."

  Better the warmth of daylight than staying in the wet cold dark, Hamond silently agreed. The chill was starting to set in again.

  "Wait," Edeline suddenly said, glancing around wildly. "I just realized that I dropped my sword in the chaos."

  "Are you certain we have time to look?" Hamond asked. They could always return later if it was that important.

  "I believe I saw a metal weapon back there against one of the walls," Taeseger said.

  Edeline immediately hurried back to the Sluice's chamber. Hamond frowned, not certain that was it. If the water had behaved as expected, and Edeline had lost her grip on the blade, it should be further down the tunnel...

  "Phosphaira." He sent his own light spell down the tunnel. Controlling it wasn't as easy for him as it was for Edeline, but he had learned to manage it somewhat. As he had thought, a good distance away was the gleam of light on steel. He trotted over and reached down, recovering the sword.

  But what was it that Taeseger had seen then?

  "Edeline, I found it." Hamond raised his voice as he rejoined the others. That was a mistake, as he found himself coughing with the effort. If either of them fell ill as a result of their time down here, it would be a major problem for the other. Nela hardly needed to tend to a pair of fevers on top of Takhat's wounds.

  Edeline came back, holding something long and thin in both hands. "It was a spear," she said, sounding a bit disgusted. "I'll trade you for my sword then. You could probably lean on this. if nothing else."

  He offered the sword, then took the spear from her other hand. It seemed similar to the one Hamond had seen Takhat and Senby sparring with. Probably one of the town guards had found their way here after the Sluice's spell was cast, only to fall prey to one of the creatures.

  Whatever the story behind the lost weapon was, like so many other stories, it had ended in tragedy. But at least theirs would not...for now. "Let's go," he said, before coughing nearly overtook him again.

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