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Annwyl tried to figure out what new trick this could be, but she never took her fading eyes off the round shook under her Even as they backed away from her in obvious horror Even as the enor out the sun

It wasn’t until the lanced up to see black scales hovering just above her When the scales s, she finally looked back at the fleeing soldiers

The strea trees, flowers, and, eventually,her sword now to prop herself up, she watched as the ene as they desperately fought to put out the fires that covered theh her, even with the knowledge that she would be next As the screaon now looking down at her He watched her with obvious curiosity and made no move to blast her into oblivion At least not yet

"I’d fear you, Lord Dragon," she got out as the little strength left fled her body and she dropped to one knee, her hand still holding her blood-covered sword "If I weren’t already dying" She gave a bitter half-shed and blood flowed onto her chin and down her burnished steel arround And, soon after, she felt herselfShe didn’t knohether her soul had passed over to the land of her ancestors or into the mouth of a beast, but either way she was done with this life

Chapter 2

Annwyl heardsound

She forced her eyes open and struggled to focus She knew that she lay in a proper bed, her naked body covered with animal furs She could hear the crackle of a pit fire nearby and feel its warmth Other than that, she had no idea where she was or how by the gods she got here Last thing she remembered she died But there was a little too much pain for her to be dead

Her eyes focused and she realized she was in a rooain and atte panic These were no ods," she whispered as she reached out and touched her hand to the cold grey stone

"Good You’re awake"

Annwyl gulped and prayed the gods were just playing a cruel joke on her She raised herself on her elbohen that deep, dark voice spoke again, "Careful You don’t want to tear open those stitches"

With utter and al dread, Annwyl looked over her shoulder and then couldn’t turn away There he was An enorainst his body The light elisten His huge horned head rested in the center of one of his claws He looked so casual If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he sulf between thenificent creature But a creature