Cava drove her capture hook through the recovery jaw before the seventh punch could pull any deeper into her shoulder.
The jaw closed on the hook. Metal teeth pressed against the old crown through her shirt, trapping cloth while the long scar dragged toward the black band around Ty's chain.
Her injured ankle struck Orra's hide each time Ruvan hauled the recall rope. Todd kept the foot wedged inside his elbow and used his last staff section to hold Jori's damaged leg above the stone.
Nessa still had the recovered field finger pressed against the second square punch.
Tovan's five breaths reached it again. The sixth pull returned empty.
"Close that punch until every body reaches a brace inside Rillhold."
Nessa lifted the finger. The breathing cup stopped knocking through the band.
The twelve punches stayed open.
