Shard's right hand traced a radiant glimmer in the air, and Silvermoon's blade sliced through the blood fog's curtain, slashing at the woman as she softly kissed the ring. But apart from leaving another wound on her forehead, it had no effect.
The woman cackled wildly in her final moments, laughing hysterically as she uttered the spell words that Shard had failed to discern last time:
"In the shift from yang to yin begins a new life's spin!"
She slipped on the ring, and her broken body immediately billowed thick smoke. Lady Lassoya slowly closed her eyes as life neared its end.
At that moment, black smoke enveloped the woman's body. Shard, trying to stop her, once again heard the Whisper, the chewing within the smoke, and the curses of countless voices.
He reached out to thrust his hand into the smoke, to at least do something. But a boot emerged from the smoke and kicked Shard, toppling him back against the wall.
