Cairnspire closed its lowest bridge while Jiang was still wrapped in a nursery cloth.
The span rose between two dead-star shells, shedding people, baskets, and one protesting shellback seal onto the inner shelf. Iron teeth met beneath it. Rune light traveled across the join and turned toward Skykeel.
Not toward the armada behind them.
Toward Kaul's hook.
The living thing lifted from his shoulder. Every rune tooth along the gate leaned after it with a metal scrape.
The rider pressed Kaul beneath the surviving rib. She laid his own blade across the hook without cutting. Olsa reached for her weapon anyway.
"We have already had this argument," the rider said.
"The gate is having it now."
"Then argue with the gate."
On the rising bridge, a broad woman caught the last handrail and walked uphill as the span folded under her boots. Copper rings covered both forearms. A hammer with two flat heads hung against her back.
