Mabry stared up at the other girl in shock. She tried to speak, but her lungs were already filling with blood. She was dying, she realized. And without help, she was going to die. The focus to cast spells was beyond her.

"Why?" her blood-spattered lungs mouthed.

She stared at the stone in Medrau's hands, but her thoughts were of her husband, of Ashlyn, of Song. There was still so much she wanted to do. She did not want to die like this.