Rain fell over the open sea.
It came down in thick, heavy sheets, hissing as it struck the waves. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, swallowing the last of the light, and every few seconds, lightning split them apart.
BOOOOM!
Thunder rolled over the water.
The sea rose and fell in tall, grey swells. Far behind them, Vhal-Sar was only a thin golden curve on the horizon, its smoke blending into the storm.
The coral-jawed Daemon stared at Simon.
Then he laughed.
"Attack you at once?" He shook his head slowly, rain running down the coral growths along his jaw. "Do you even hear yourself?"
He pointed at Simon.
"I watched you struggle against her the entire time. You were bleeding from everywhere. You could barely keep up." His lip curled. "Your aura is stronger now, I'll give you that. But a Greater Demon telling three of us to attack him at once?"
He snorted.
"That's not courage. That's foolishness."
Beside him, the ram-horned Daemon grinned.
Ilvara said nothing.
