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Then two began a slow lope towards hi five fanned out and followed

Oh…

Sudden calood as already dead There would be no time to open the warren to return to his oorld-nor would he, in any case, since to do so would give the hounds a path to follow- and I’ll not have their arrival in the oasis a cri my soul Better to die here and now Duly punished for my obsessive curiosity

The hounds showed nothing of the speed they had unveiled against the K’ell Hunters, as if they sensed L’oric’s co behind hion filled his vision, low over the water-so fast as to lift a thrashing wave in its wake-and the talons spread wide, the huge clawed hands reaching down

He threw his arers closed like a cage around him, then snatched hilion’s shadow-the distant sound of half-hulistening white belly of the dragon, seen between two curled talons

He was carried far, out onto a sea, then towards an island where stood a squat tower, its flat roof broad and solid enough for the dragon, wings spreading to thunder against the air, to settle

The claws opened, tued and scraped stones He rolled up against the platform’s loall, then slowly sat up

And stared at the enoron, its lambent eyes fixed upon hie

‘Father,’ he said, ‘I’ve been looking for you’

Osric was not one for furnishings and decor The chamber beneath the platform was barren, its floor littered with the detritus left by nesting ss, the air pungent with guano

L’oric leaned against a wall, ar his father pace

He was pure Liosan in appearance, tall and pale as snow, his long, wavy hair silver and streaked with gold His eyes seee with an inner fire, its tones aplain grey leathers, the sword at his belt virtually identical to the one L’oric carried

‘Father The Queen of Drea moment

‘I am Or, rather, I was Further, I would remain so’