The armada hook pulled, and the Red Aeries scar moved under the chick's feet.
Its hinged teeth had closed around the doubled messenger cord. A black root leader ran behind the white shaft and disappeared into the wound, carrying force from some swimmer or machine neither Valea nor Hest could see.
White tissue stretched toward the slit.
Across the ledge, the messenger cord swept over the female emperor's joined feet and tightened. She lifted one foot to free it without dropping her chick.
Beneath her breast, the chick escaped.
It pecked the root cord once. When that failed, it lunged farther and closed its small beak around the white hinge.
Fire flashed along the chick's down.
Still, the chick screamed without releasing.
Its bite stopped one hinged tooth from opening fully. Instead, the hook turned and dragged the doubled cord across the female's toes toward the chick's throat.
Already injured, the male struck it with his breast.
