Kael
The feed looked thinner from the marked position.
That did not make the thing behind it smaller.
Dark growth pressed around the thicker root in a tight knot. Its surface moved with the pulse we had watched from cover, then settled again.
I could reach the exposed near section.
I could not reach the far connection without going around the root.
Those were two different problems.
Veylan checked the treatment signal one more time.
Clear.
Liora stood beside the dead growth covering the weak feed. Her blade was plain steel in her hand. She had already let her flame go.
The screen crew took the physical load before the field began. Shields settled against stone. Hooks caught their prepared braces.
I remembered the keeper's cart.
No movement behind the turn. No healer waiting just inside the distance because the path had been expected to clear.
The watcher kept his eyes on it.
