of its long, catlike body. It had hands, four fingered, tipped with sharp claws, and Merlan watched them click as it stepped forward. The hind legs were powerful, built for wheeling around to tear prey down, but none of this was frightening. Its wings drew her in by their design. They were lightly scaled and furred membrane stretched between a framework of interconnected, sturdy stays, each tipped with a flexible joint and claw. Massive pale green eyes regarded her with a keen intelligence that made her catch her breath.
It opened its mouth to reveal a sharp gleaming row of crystalline teeth.
And then it breathed on her. She felt it penetrate the heat like a cooling balm, washing over and over and over her like blessed rain. The burning eased until it was an itch, and then, finally, she slept a dreamless sleep. Merlan knew, though, that there was something terribly wrong.
She knew, without a doubt, that someone was killing mages. She also knew that the battle for her survival had only just begun.
Merlan had been Chosen, one of the survivors.
Goddess grant that Fia, too, had survived.
It opened its mouth to reveal a sharp gleaming row of crystalline teeth.
And then it breathed on her. She felt it penetrate the heat like a cooling balm, washing over and over and over her like blessed rain. The burning eased until it was an itch, and then, finally, she slept a dreamless sleep. Merlan knew, though, that there was something terribly wrong.
She knew, without a doubt, that someone was killing mages. She also knew that the battle for her survival had only just begun.
Merlan had been Chosen, one of the survivors.
Goddess grant that Fia, too, had survived.
