When the Bellmother rolled, every rider flew upward into the sea.
Her scar pulled the nursery chain first. The marked district rose beneath Kaul's shear perch, struck the lower skin of the ceiling ocean, and punched a tower-sized fold of water through the roofs.
Wing-sails opened by reflex.
That saved riders in air. Underwater, the cloth trapped great silver bellies of air and dragged them away from the streets below.
Beras vanished into the fold with both dark wings spread. The green-sailed rider followed, one arm around the hatchling she had pulled from the broken cradle. Three Hook Choir hunters struck the water beside them. None came back through the surface.
Kesta hit the grate with her brass hook. "They cannot close their sails against that pull."
Jiang was already swimming.
