As Melinda suffers her beating at her foes' bashing, only telepathic noise filters through the rubies' link. Meanwhile, the drone degenerates from its powerful resonance into a mere shriek, and finally a series of pained yelps.

Instinctively grasping at the strands of magic that seek her out, Melinda soon appears next to Tallesin, badly battered and wearing that alarmed and aghast look that nearly all people get when something has gone stupidly wrong and horribly out of control. Such was the price of inexperience.

At least she'd made it with enough guts that she wouldn't make it again.