Page 147 of A Forgery of Fate

Amid the ensuing smoke and disarray, Shani stole into Nazayun’s missing eye socket and vanished with a snap.

The change in him was immediate. A violent shudder rolled over his body, as though he had swallowed the wind itself. He tore at his face, trying to pluck the demon out, but it was too late.

As if he were being painted by a divine brush, sapphire-blue scales plated his human flesh, and his white beard billowed into a cloudy mane about his head. Silvery horns stabbed out above his eyes, and his neck stretched long and thick until it became part of his body, serpentine and winding.

I stumbled toward Elang. Nazayun’s head was already looming by the mast, his body uncurling like a snake’s. It wouldn’t be long before the ship sank under his weight. We had to get out of here.

“Get on my back,” Elang said.

Together we sprang, diving underwater a moment before Nazayun’s head came smashing against the deck, his horns rending the ship in half. Crystal shards caught the gleam of the sun as the great ship sank.

From a safe distance, Elang and I broke the surface. The Dragon King was once more in the sea, his fingernails curled into talons, his whiskers piercing out of his cheeks. His tail grew out from under the hem of his silk robes; the threads hardened into ridges, and its lustrous sheen became the glow of a celestial hide.

When he opened his remaining eye, it was red.

Like Shani’s.

The demon had done it. Nazayun was returned to his dragon form, and the sky, the sea, the storm—everything was just as I had painted. The portrait of a god’s fall.

It was time to send him into Oblivion. I started to let go of Elang’s horns, but he caught my hand. In a tone that would brook no argument, he said, “I’ll take you.”

We leapt into the air, swooping over the mountainous waves that rose from the sea.

We had to be swift. Nazayun was stronger as a dragon. Already his powers were multiplying, and the color of his eye flickered unsteadily, red to blue, blue to red. Shani was struggling.

Blue again. With a blink, Caisan and the merfolk were turned to stone.

I let out a furious cry.

Just bear it a little longer,Shani said weakly, her thoughts straining to make contact with mine.He’s almost there.

Almost where? Then I remembered:Dragons are supposed to be creatures of wisdom and protection, not rampant destruction. That goes against their nature; makes them lose control.

Red, barely.

Blue.

Bluer.

Then finally—

Elang and I were gaining ground, only a leap away, when I saw the change. Nazayun’s eye, whiter than the moon! His whiskers flashed, his hair began to hiss, and in a tumultuous burst, lightning crackled up his spine, sparks spitting from his scales.

His body came ablaze, turning the sea silver. There was no way I could get near him. I couldn’t even look at him without my eyes watering.

Crafty tyrant,I thought. So much for this being his moment of weakness. If I so much as touched him, I would die.

Then again, that was what he wanted, wasn’t it? For me to die. Nazayun had been so focused on my being the Painter, had he forgotten I was also destined to break Elang’s curse? My heart pounding, I glanced at the horizon. Only a quarter of the sun remained; there were minutes left until dusk.

“When an immortal breaks their promise”—I nudged Elang—“what did you say they suffer?”

“Divine consequence,” he replied. “Why?”

A smile took over my face. “I’m going to jump.”

“Wait,” said Elang. I was worried he’d protest, but from his sleeve, he gave me a slender paintbrush. “I’ll bring you closer.”

He rode the waves to the highest crest, bringing me level with the Dragon King’s brow. The wind was fierce, and Shani’s red glow grew dimmer with every second.

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