If Aleksander could still call on the Cut, he would have done so without hesitation. Even giant multi-headed maggots would be hard-pressed to recover from being sliced in half by tangible shadows. But that power was still barred to him and he was not sure he could defeat this monster on his own.

He swore in ancient Ravkan, not caring if the Mansion translated this or not then called his shadows back to him. He pulled his hands into fists and as he did so, the shadows swirled around him like a shield and he stepped back until he was lost in the darkness.