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“Who are they?” Misha whispered loudly. Hadima answered stiffly, “Those are gods, Mishi.”

Pyetar headed toward them, Iryana reluctantly following at his side.

Mhakiza, the fire goddess, slid down from the ash dragon on the left. Her beaded dress and long, dark hair had been replaced with shining black armor and she had her hair in a top knot secured with a fox-shaped pin. Voordiza, the goddess of water, climbed down from the other dragon in a dress of small white scales that looked like some strange metal. Her white-blonde hair hung down her back in one large braid.

“Shouldn’t they be fighting a war?” Iryana hissed under her breath.

They met in the dirt beside the pit.

“You did not answer our call,” Mhakiza accused.

“According to Thelbiz her response was fuck off.”

Iryana flinched, squeezing Pyetar’s hand in a death grip, her jaw clenched.

“We had troubles of our own,” Pyetar answered for her. “What do you need?”

Mhakiza sighed in annoyance, but she answered, rushing through the words. “Noshtiz is tunneling into Istri, but he has blocked us out with a great barrier which only allows his magic through. We’ve tried to breach it, but we cannot. If the barrier doesn’t come down, we can do nothing to stop him.”

Her mind spun.

“What do you expect us to do?” Iryana’s curiosity got the better of her. “We’re far less powerful than you.”

“Ah, but you’re on our side. And you have some of Mhakiza’s magic, in addition to what you carry of Noshtiz.”

“What do you want me to do with it? Fight Noshtiz?” The idea was preposterous.

Voordiza laughed, but it was a dry, cold sound. “No, Iryana. The bit of Noshtiz’s magic within you will let you pass through the barrier. Then I can use my magic in you to channel my power and attack the barrier from the inside. And your friend…” She pointed at Lidishta. “She has Noshtiz’s and Mhakiza’s magic, so Mhakiza can channel through her as well. If we get the two of you through the barrier, we can take it down and stop him.”

Iryana stumbled, so dizzy she was seeing stars. This was all going to rest on her and Lidishta? It was impossible. Iryana couldn’t save the world. She couldn’t even save her grandmother.

“And we need you to go now,” Mhakiza added urgently.

“Do they have to go alone?” Vaneshta asked, clinging tightly to Lidishta’s hand.

Mhakiza shrugged. “Only they should pass the barrier, but I don’t care who else goes with them. If you can fit on my dragons, fine.”

“We’re riding the dragons,” Iryana repeated, paling.

“It’s the only way you’ll get there in time,” Voordiza snapped. Not unkindly, just rushing.

Iryana watched the others divide into two groups, the tracker preparing to lead those staying back to the caves. Iryana was about to tell her sisters she wanted them to return with him, when Voordiza suddenly seized her wrist, dragging her close.

“Your magic, child… you haven’t settled it.”

“N-no…” Iryana tried to pull her arm back.

Voordiza looked between Iryana and Lidishta, gaze severe. “You two have about an hour on that dragon’s back until you’re at the barrier. If you haven’t steadied your magic by then, Iryana, it will tear you apart and I won’t be able to channel my magic through you.”

The blood rushed out of her face. She swayed. Her legs barely held her up as she stumbled back against Pyetar, hoping he’d hold her up.

“We’ll figure it out, Iri,” Pyetar promised softly, wrapping her in his warmth.

This whole thing was a joke. The gods’ war was a joke. The fate of Istri was a joke. And Iryana wasn’t laughing.

“Work it out on the way. On the dragon—now.” Mhakiza ushered people onto the dragon.

“Oh, and Pyetar?” Voordiza approached him, a distant look on her face. “You’re going to need this.”