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Do you see the tanniyn? the duchess asked.

Achan turned back toward the gate and searched the grey waves. At first he saw nothing. The waves seemed rougher here than on the coast of Sitna. Then, like a thread pulling through fabric, a dark loop ran through the water until the tip of a tentacle sank beneath the waves.

Is it like a big fish? Achan stared at the place he’d seen it, then scanned the surrounding water for where it might appear next. He had seen drawings of tanniyns, but no two were the same. Some resembled chams with the body of a fish. Some looked like fish. Some water snakes.

Duchess Amal tugged him closer. I will take you to it.

They soared over the sea. The sunlight shone on the glassy surface, reflecting the clouds above. Achan and the duchess were invisible and produced not even a shadow.

There! Duchess Amal pulled Achan to the right.

This time he saw a greenish-grey body spin through the waves. Keeled scales roughened the skin and darkened its appearance until smoothing out into three separate tails.

It has three tails?

Duchess Amal smiled, her ivory skin greyed by the water behind her misty form. Do not panic. It cannot see us or hurt us while we are in the Veil.

She dove into the water, dragging Achan along. The water instantly cooled him, though that was probably an illusion provided by his mind. Everything darkened.

See there? Duchess Amal’s hair and gown floated up around her. She pointed behind Achan.

He spun around just as a dark shadow swam toward him, a maw flashing four large fangs with dozens of spiked teeth between them.

The tanniyn swam past. Its head and long neck resembled a snake attached to the body of a massive lizard. Instead of legs or a tail, it had five long tentacles. Its head was brown, but its skin was spotted brown and white. It was ten times as large as the cham bear that had attacked Achan.

Had Achan been in his physical body, he would have blacked out from forgetting to breathe.

I sense the presence of a bloodvoicer, the duchess said.

Achan concentrated on the beast, detecting the faint pressure of a wall around its mind. I sense shields. How can you tell they are from a man?

An animal is incapable of shielding its mind.

Right. Shall we storm the influencer now?

We wait for Sir Gavin’s order. He is expecting my report.

Duchess Amal gripped Achan’s arm, and they floated out of the sea and back to shore.

Sir Gavin Lukos.

As they flew over Esek’s army, Achan opened his mind to Sir Gavin. Duchess Amal was relaying what they saw from their positions, the numbers of the enemy, and the location of the tanniyn.

Your assistance is most appreciated, my lady, Sir Gavin said. Are you there, Your Highness?

Aye.

You and Duchess Amal will storm the mages who are conjuring spells. Once you take them down, we’ll know how many we’re really dealing with. Prince Oren will help.

Achan glanced at the gate. His uncle was in the Veil? But what about the tanniyn?

Leave it until it becomes a problem, Sir Gavin said. The mages are the bigger threat at the moment.

Didn’t you say there were two tanniyn?

Aye, there were. If you didn’t see a second, perhaps they moved it closer to Mahanaim.

Come, Your Highness, Duchess Amal said. Let us have another lesson in storming, shall we?

Achan followed Duchess Amal back over the enemy ranks. The black knights were evenly spaced along the back line. They wore their black painted wooden masks over their faces, so Achan had no guess who they might be.

A knock came to Achan. Prince Oren Hadar.

Achan opened his mind. Where are you, Uncle?

Floating atop the end of the drawbridge.

Achan flew that way, and soon could make out his uncle’s shimmering form just where he said he’d be. Achan had his uncle’s height, blue eyes, and dark hair, though Prince Oren’s had some grey in it.

Prince Oren smiled. You look well, my boy. I see Caleb is dressing you in the latest fashions.

Aye, Arman forbid I wear a red cloak like everyone else.

Prince Oren chuckled. I understand