Maelor weighed the broken horn in his hand.
Next, he snapped his arm forward and threw it at Seraphine like a spear.
The horn ripped through the air so fast it left only a thin afterimage. It shot straight out of Maelor's grip, shattering several golden blade-lights along the way, the tip locked precisely on Seraphine's chest.
Seraphine didn't move.
The deep-gold rings around her contracted at the same time, stacking layer upon layer in front of her. When the broken horn struck the first ring, a burst of blinding sparks exploded from the tip. By the second ring, its speed had noticeably dropped. By the time it reached the last, the blades orbiting Seraphine snapped into motion, crossing in front of her and blocking its path.
A metallic clang rang through the sky.
The horn stopped less than half an arm's length from Seraphine's body, then was forced aside by the shield's pressure.
Her wings didn't even spread.
