They walked atop the cliffs now and they came again to the elevated rill.  In the night Adwyn almost walked blind into it, and glanced at his side again; the amphiptere had crept up again, but didn’t lunge.  She reared up as high as his withers and waited like that till the drake petted her.


    what?”


    tonight.  It would be simple for you.”


    Come.”


    die.


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    “It seems things have grown more dire than I recognize.  There must be a nest nearby.”


    Do not let it claw you.”


    pop that frills twitched.


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    The black iron gate to the depths of the pits still hung open behind Adwyn.  A moment of thought, and then he closed it, shutting off completely this chamber from the meager light of moons and stars.  He had the murderer’s lamp, and held it near.  It made the whole world feel very small.  The slight fingers of light couldn’t touch the walls.


    Cool, and transparent, and brilliant.


    * * *