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As he writhed there, Zeff could not understand why the bastard was taking so long to kill them. Parson had always been an absurd motormouth, but Zeff had never known the man to gloat. This was pure cruelty and stupidity. Ridiculous. All it did was make the old well boil another time.

“I know it’s a bit late for a lecture,” Parson was still saying, “but I hope some of this is sinking in. Oh, but I should commend you for one thing, at least. In spite of all the other mistakes you’ve made, you were correct to not allow Sanko to investigate you. That would not have gone your way. I assure you. For many reasons. One of which is named Blackburn. But I suppose that’s neither here nor there. Let’s see, what else did I want to talk about? Umm... hmm...”

Evangelina’s whole body began to sizzle and burn at once. She might have been immobilized and weakened, but the explosive potential of sulfur transfiguration was not to be ignored, even by Parson. If she empowered the blast with her soul, he would die along with the rest of them. And of course, if Parson was going to kill them anyway, then the Rainlords didn’t have much to lose.

And by the sudden look in the Cpt. General’s eyes, Parson understood these facts instantly. A surge of wind propelled the woman away at the very last moment, and the explosion detonated in a searing flash, ripping through one of the bridge’s center columns. Dozens of cables snapped free at once and whipped around like giant snakes as Parson and all of his captives went soaring across the crumbling structure, pursued by a trail of smoke.

But captives, they still were. Parson retained his grip on Zeff, Axiolis, and even Evangelina’s reaper.

“Whew!” said Parson. “So impatient! Always was her problem! And what a temper!” He’d regained control and started flying with Zeff stuck in front of him. “Not like you, Zeff. In fact, you had too much patience, didn’t you? Never did learn how to strike while the iron was hot. Always needed that extra push.”

Still, Zeff tried to attack with ice. And still, it was fruitless.

“Well, it’s okay,” said Parson. “Because Gema isn’t like you. She’s better than you ever were.”

And Zeff stopped attacking and just stared with hard, wide eyes at the man’s deceptively young face.

“That’s right, Zeff. Gema works for me. I know exactly where she is. I’ve known all along.”