Wind rushed past her face as she plummeted down, straight toward the hard marble floor. “‘Glirima!’” she screamed.

She halted just before she hit the floor, the marble so close it was nearly touching her nose. The spell slipped from Vix’s control a moment later and she collapsed heavily on the ground. Her body felt like a wrung-out towel, every muscle shivering uncontrollably.

A great rumble came from the hole beside her. Then a solid mass of Amuul came rocketing out, ...