We stood there, catching our breath and processing what had just happened. Thalira had saved us with again with a single strike, her power overwhelming the man who had so easily beaten us. Vekros lay unconscious at our feet, bound by Thalira's shadow magic. The intensity of the battle began to ebb away, leaving us exhausted and bewildered.
"Thank you, Thalira," I said, my voice trembling with relief. "
Thalira nodded, her expression serious. "You're welcome, Eileen. But we need to move quickly. There's more at stake here than we realized."
Zaya stepped forward, her face a mask of determination. "We'll go back to the inn and regroup. We need to figure out our next steps and contact my mother. She needs to know what's happening."