The stolen feather reached the first black trunk.
Every branch attached to it flattened against the graveback's spine. Marrow buds widened into pale imitations of webbed feet. Roots that had been bracing bridges abandoned their posts and crawled toward Maelin's hall in Jiang's low shape.
One suspended house dropped.
A warning bell made from a shoulder blade rang once and tore free with its rope. Bone Orchard fighters cut the house's support vines before the roof could strike the graveback. Two of them leaped after it with tendon lines around their waists.
The house swung free on a single black root, shedding glass fruit and furniture into open road. One fighter landed astride the roof. The other caught a window frame and kicked it shut before the room inside could empty after its chairs.
A third crew hauled both lines tight. The black root held.
Raska did not watch it fall.
She watched the dead flight rib holding Maelin's wounded wing.
