"That's what I'm hoping, or we're all in a fair bit of trouble," Eva said grimly, and that expression turned even more ashen when Annabeth described the carnage Malicant had wrought on the hatchling turtles.

"And Evandau too..." she muttered with a shake of her head, her mouth firming into a tight line. "He and I may have been at odds over many things, but he didn't deserve such an end. He might have been a strong Emperor one day."

She sighed at the mention of Wlodislaw. "He is," Eva agreed with Annabeth's observation. "What did he say?"

Despite Korra's assurance that the energy-bending wouldn't hurt, the magician's scarred face tensed, obviously feeling something at the attempt, and she did her best to keep her voice level. "Now there's an odd sensation... like someone's taking a meat hook to my magic."