Elves: Beyond the Mists of Katura by James Barclay

man, his face bloodied and his nose flattened, stared at Auum through eyes confused by the blow to his head.
    ‘Who are you?’ he managed.
    ‘I am Auum.’ He took a jaqrui from its pouch and sliced the captain’s neck open.
    The helmsman had jumped and would drown in the sea. Auum turned from the captain’s body and took the bobbing wheel. He turned it hard to starboard, towards the central ship of the rear
line, which was already burning under the force of Stein’s spell. He wedged the captain’s body under the wheel, locking the rudder.
    He trotted over to where Ulysan knelt with Ollem. The youngster was both moving and talking.
    ‘How do you feel?’ asked Ulysan.
    ‘I’ll live,’ said Ollem, coughing. ‘The heat . . . Thank you, Auum.’
    ‘You were lucky. We’ll get Stein to take a look at you. Can you still fight?’ asked Auum.
    ‘I can.’
    ‘Good,’ said Auum. ‘Fast hands, Ollem.’
    ‘Yes, my Arch.’
    Auum stood. The fight on the ship was all but done. He could see Duele at the prow, looking for more targets, but the body of one TaiGethen lay on the deck. Auum cursed.
    ‘Let’s clear up and get overboard. Much to do and the day is waning.’
    Capricious
moved steadily between her two enemies, one of which was beset by TaiGethen. The other was unchallenged for now. The distance to her had been too great for
the TaiGethen to risk. The skipper would come around for another pass.
    The shaman casting was relentless, scouring the barrier for weaknesses. Black fire spat through with increasing regularity, and Drech’s voice, calm at the outset, was strained as he fought
to keep his adepts together.
    Stein could sense the barrier beginning to weaken in several places and the shamen could sense it too. Their fire was moving steadily towards the mana lacing the construct, and where the two
forces met the Wytch Lord power was the greater.
    ‘Takaar, that barrier is going to fail.’
    Takaar stared at him as if he’d just recommended suicide.
    ‘How little you know,’ he snapped. ‘There is nothing they can do to pierce it.’ He giggled into his hands and whispered to his other self, casting a sidelong glance at
Stein, who clung resolutely to his temper.
    ‘They are picking at the mana strands, Takaar. You only have to look.’
    ‘We have them defended.’
    ‘You do not!’ spat Stein. ‘Look, damn you.’
    Takaar drew himself up and advanced on Stein. ‘You forget yourself, human. I am Ta—’
    ‘Save it,’ said Stein and he turned away. ‘Drech! Look to your mana stitching!’
    ‘You will not undermine me!’ howled Takaar.
    Drech had heard him, Stein was certain of it. He felt a change in the focus through the barrier. He rounded on Takaar, finding him but a pace away.
    ‘I’m trying to save your life. All our lives.’
    ‘I am the voice on this vessel,’ said Takaar, so furious his face was colouring and his whole body shook. ‘How dare you speak for me?’
    Stein made to grab his collar, but Takaar moved impossibly fast. Stein felt his hand being swept aside and himself falling, registering that his legs had been taken from under him only when his
backside struck the deck hard. Takaar pounced on him, knees either side of his chest, his hands around Stein’s throat. He was smiling, and Stein felt a chill throughout his body alongside the
trembling beat of his heart.
    ‘Not just Il-Aryn but TaiGethen too,’ said Takaar, increasing the pressure on his throat. He smirked. ‘Silly human thinks to lay a hand on me.’
    ‘Takaar.’ Stein gulped. ‘Don’t. We need each other.’
    ‘I think that time has passed.’
    Takaar’s hands gripped tighter. Stein had his hands on the elf’s wrists but Takaar was strong and his madness only made him stronger. Stein began to choke, praying Drech or someone
could see what was happening. Nothing else was going to save him.
    A scream rent the air. Black fire cascaded through a great tear in the barrier, which collapsed in on itself,