“Look again, Ripha. Please.” Leegaain asked, hoping to be wrong.

“Bytra is right.” Menadion nodded. “Whatever those things are, they are not Forgemastery spells.”

“Just as I feared.” Leegaain opened a long-distance Warp Steps leading to the Verhen Mansion. “Go with Lith, Bytra. You need to hide in a safe place where Azith can’t find you. I’ll let Lith know when I’m done, and he will contact you.”

“What about Zor? How can you ask me to sit tight and wait while she suffers the same experiments that created so many vengeful souls?” Bytra asked. “I could never live with myself if my cowardice killed her!”

“I’m asking you to sit tight and wait because that’s our only chance to save my daughter’s life.” Leegaain replied, making Bytra flinch. “You heard Azith. He needs you, and he’s not stupid.

“He knows that Zoreth is the only leverage he has to force you to cooperate with him. Until he gets what he wants from you, Zoreth is safe.”

“I understand.” Bytra nodded, taking deep breaths to regain her cool. “Do I return to the Organization or stay with Lith?”