60

Vecla has organized a kind of triage center outside her house, but she's struggling to accommodate all the casualties. Therko orders a dozen able-bodied warriors to help; they abandon their spears and bows and try to organize the bloody chaos around Vecla.

"Just a test," Chief Kothis says.

Bloody, soot-blackened, holding a broken spear, the chief's expression shows a mix of fury and betrayal.

"Not a battle. The False Icon was just toying with me. With us."

"Make them pay for their test," Therko says, his eyes hard. "There are still stragglers, still people floundering across the river. Send out a party right now to kill as many as we can."

But a nearby controller shakes its head.

"People are frightened and disorganized," Control says. "We need to secure our position here, rather than running off into the darkness."