The light of the fire obscured Sabine's movement for the dragon's entire breath. It streamed out in a vicious flume lasting a long moment, but when it passed there remained a bright blue shell surrounding Sabine. She was now braced with one foot back and her staff forward, projecting a broad, shimmering ward that bisected the pattern of new flickering flames on the ground around her.

The ward fell with Sabine's arms steaming and freezing a layer of bright rime frost. She brought her hands up and forward suddenly and each projected speeding spears of ice at each of the dragon's wings.

Sabine's face was a worried brow and a clenched jaw. However, the staff gave her a confidence she did not think she had.