The first hunter came out of the ceiling sea feet-first.
Water sheeted from folded hide wings. The frames snapped open as soon as the hunter cleared the surface, catching Skykeel's updraft and turning a fall into a hard rising sweep around the chain root.
Kesta shoved Jiang back into the ocean.
She followed an instant before a hooked boot cut through the air where her ribs had been. Her brass wrist hook scraped one chain link, changed angle, and vanished beneath the dark surface.
Cold swallowed Jiang again.
This time he knew which way led to air. He ignored it.
Kesta pointed through the ceiling water, away from the chain root and toward a forest of black supports. Pale growth crusted each chain where it entered the water. Schools of flat silver fish turned between them, flashing over a city that hung below like a reflection which had forgotten the ground.
Jiang kicked after her.
He passed her before the second chain.
