Chapter 426
Malick laughed and the loud thrumming began again. It pounded with an intensity that forced Katelina to the ground, first to her knees, and then to her stomach. She threw her hands over her ears and tried to see through aching, tear filled eyes. It felt like everything under her face was stretching and pulling, ready to tear apart and shatter like a china doll.
She saw a flash of something red and black and then for a second she saw Verchiel hanging from the edge of the ragged floor above. Something silver arced through the air. Jorick caught it without even looking and swung.
The roar shook the building and the thrumming stopped. Katelina pulled up to her knees to see Jorick standing over Malick, holding Verchiel's bloody sword. The ancient master's face was contorted with pain and fury until he looked more demon than man. He clutched his arm. Blood gushed around his fingers from the spot where his right hand had been.