into the dirt.” Cetos seized Katina, tugging her back into the middle of the courtyard by the hair as she struggled. He flung her to the ground, wound one hand into her hair to hold her captive, then raised the other hand.
But instead of him striking a blow, Katina saw a flash of brilliant light and heat. She heard Cetos swear in astonishment. A massive dragon raged into the courtyard, teeth bared and talons outstretched.
For a heartbeat, she and Cetos stared at the creature in astonishment. Cetos’ grip in her hair loosened in his surprise, and Katina pulled herself away from him.
The dragon’s scales were the hue of ebony and gleamed as if polished individually by a hundred slaves. The scales on his chest looked to be silver but with proximity, Katina saw they were the color of smoky amethysts. His teeth were enormous and sharp, and his wings stretched nearly the entire width of the courtyard. He appeared as if conjured of nowhere, but then attacked Cetos with savage force.
The dragon roared and breathed a torrent of fire at Cetos, then struck him down with fierce blow from his front claw. Cetos fell to his knees and cowered, folding his arms over his head. Katina scurried toward the wall, uncertain of the creature’s intent.
She turned her back to the wall and looked back. The dragon turned his gaze upon her, his expression both hungry and knowing. She caught her breath and toward the kitchen, wondering if there was any escape from this beast.
She was fiercely glad that Lysander was gone and safe.
In that instant, Cetos seized a shard of pottery and flung it at the dragon, apparently aiming for the creature’s face. The dragon roared and he thrashed his tail, his blow sending Cetos flying into the opposite wall. The dragon’s eyes flashed, then he arched his neck and breathed a stream of fire at Cetos. Katina smelled burning cloth and singed flesh. She heard Cetos scream in agony and turned her face away to avoid seeing his fate.
She supposed a better person wouldn’t have been glad that Cetos suffered.
Katina didn’t see the dragon approach until she felt the heat of his presence. She glanced up just as he snatched at her. She struggled when his talons locked around her waist in a fearsome grip. She fought against his merciless grip, knowing it was futile to even try to match his strength, then cried out when he took flight.
With her securely in his grasp.
Katina looked down into the courtyard of her home, unable to make sense of what was happening. She’d been captured by a dragon. The dragon was flying through the air. Was he one of the gods, having taken this form? Or was he some strange beast, created by the gods to serve some whim? Where would he take her? And why?
She was still holding the cloak she had taken from Cetos’ shoulders. She stared at it as if seeing it for the first time. Then she glanced down at the village that was dropping away beneath her feet.
The courtyard of her home was filled with broken pottery and flames. She saw the slaves run to Cetos and pour a jug of water over him, then she couldn’t see him anymore. She saw the neighbors come from their homes, leaving the warmth of their courtyards to investigate the noise. Several looked up, and their jaws fell slack in surprise.
Then the dragon beat his wings hard, carrying her high into the sky and away from all she had known. Katina looked up at the darkening sky, out over the hills, then back down at the village below.
She was astonished to realize that she was glad. She dropped Cetos’ cloak and let it flutter toward the earth, a part of her past and not her future. The sight of it falling pleased her so much that she removed Cetos’ gold ring and threw it after the cloak.
For the first time in years, Katina felt free.
She owed a debt to a dragon for that. She couldn’t help but look up at the impressive creature and wonder what price he’d demand as his due.
* * *
Alexander could have gnashed his teeth
But instead of him striking a blow, Katina saw a flash of brilliant light and heat. She heard Cetos swear in astonishment. A massive dragon raged into the courtyard, teeth bared and talons outstretched.
For a heartbeat, she and Cetos stared at the creature in astonishment. Cetos’ grip in her hair loosened in his surprise, and Katina pulled herself away from him.
The dragon’s scales were the hue of ebony and gleamed as if polished individually by a hundred slaves. The scales on his chest looked to be silver but with proximity, Katina saw they were the color of smoky amethysts. His teeth were enormous and sharp, and his wings stretched nearly the entire width of the courtyard. He appeared as if conjured of nowhere, but then attacked Cetos with savage force.
The dragon roared and breathed a torrent of fire at Cetos, then struck him down with fierce blow from his front claw. Cetos fell to his knees and cowered, folding his arms over his head. Katina scurried toward the wall, uncertain of the creature’s intent.
She turned her back to the wall and looked back. The dragon turned his gaze upon her, his expression both hungry and knowing. She caught her breath and toward the kitchen, wondering if there was any escape from this beast.
She was fiercely glad that Lysander was gone and safe.
In that instant, Cetos seized a shard of pottery and flung it at the dragon, apparently aiming for the creature’s face. The dragon roared and he thrashed his tail, his blow sending Cetos flying into the opposite wall. The dragon’s eyes flashed, then he arched his neck and breathed a stream of fire at Cetos. Katina smelled burning cloth and singed flesh. She heard Cetos scream in agony and turned her face away to avoid seeing his fate.
She supposed a better person wouldn’t have been glad that Cetos suffered.
Katina didn’t see the dragon approach until she felt the heat of his presence. She glanced up just as he snatched at her. She struggled when his talons locked around her waist in a fearsome grip. She fought against his merciless grip, knowing it was futile to even try to match his strength, then cried out when he took flight.
With her securely in his grasp.
Katina looked down into the courtyard of her home, unable to make sense of what was happening. She’d been captured by a dragon. The dragon was flying through the air. Was he one of the gods, having taken this form? Or was he some strange beast, created by the gods to serve some whim? Where would he take her? And why?
She was still holding the cloak she had taken from Cetos’ shoulders. She stared at it as if seeing it for the first time. Then she glanced down at the village that was dropping away beneath her feet.
The courtyard of her home was filled with broken pottery and flames. She saw the slaves run to Cetos and pour a jug of water over him, then she couldn’t see him anymore. She saw the neighbors come from their homes, leaving the warmth of their courtyards to investigate the noise. Several looked up, and their jaws fell slack in surprise.
Then the dragon beat his wings hard, carrying her high into the sky and away from all she had known. Katina looked up at the darkening sky, out over the hills, then back down at the village below.
She was astonished to realize that she was glad. She dropped Cetos’ cloak and let it flutter toward the earth, a part of her past and not her future. The sight of it falling pleased her so much that she removed Cetos’ gold ring and threw it after the cloak.
For the first time in years, Katina felt free.
She owed a debt to a dragon for that. She couldn’t help but look up at the impressive creature and wonder what price he’d demand as his due.
* * *
Alexander could have gnashed his teeth
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