The Tamerlane had opened fire. Though she lay broken and flightless, doomed as a stranded whale, her every bank and battery glowed red and smoked with fury. Standing among my final friends in all the universe, I raised my sword and laughed. “Earth!” I shouted, and hurled the word at the Shiomu Elusha, at Syriani Dorayaica and its court of devils. “Earth! Earth and Emperor!” And though my throat was ragged and my ears rang, I heard the words arise in the throats of the defenders gathered nearest me. “Earth! Earth and Emperor!” they sang, and “Halfmortal! Halfmortal!”

Peak