James hit black stone shoulder first.
He hit it hard enough that everything went white for a second. When it came back he was on his side with the scythe still locked in his hand, because his fingers had not let go of it through the whole transfer, and his body was telling him very clearly that it did not want to get up.
`[HP: 239 / 2,048]`
`[AUTHORITY RELEASE — 00:19:38 REMAINING]`
*Count.*
He got his head up.
Finn was down on one knee with Ronan's arm still over his shoulder, lowering him to the floor rather than dropping him. Ciara had caught herself on one hand. Mara's staff had skidded away from her across the stone, and she lunged after it on her knees. Cillian was standing and swearing. Declan was standing and silent. Ren had landed on his feet with his hand on the scabbard, as if he had never been anything else. Maeve was already moving. Darragh had his shield up out of habit. Alice's wings were still half round James, so all eleven of them were there.
