The view through Ayame's eyes opened before him. He watched her katana drive Veshara toward Black Fang, saw Lilith cut off the captain's retreat, and raised his palm beneath them.
Quinlan drew wind up through the holes he'd made in the inn, compressing it beneath the surviving floor. Through Ayame's sight, he watched Veshara turn Serika's fist aside with her palm while Black Fang's blade made her lean away from it.
Her tail planted to support her.
He drove his hand upward.
*KRA-BOOOOM!*
The floor erupted beneath Veshara. A narrow column of compressed wind struck her at the perfect spot from below, tore her tail out of its support, and slammed her through the ceiling before she could uncurl it.
"Wh-?!"
Roof beams shattered against her back. She burst into daylight through a spray of tiles, shooting upward above the inn while the thunder of Quinlan's spell rolled across Sarthal.
For a moment, the sheer violence of the launch took her breath away.
