upted, searing

lames flared along Mialtros's b

Flames spewed from its face plates, roaring forth in a stream that she

d mass as they passed, cutting it

ace into the grass, wiping h

Xiathia.

some flames, buried h

have words for the demon and t

rti was driving Mewl into the hillside,

ing, fangs dripping f

crawling t

e happily paid for the p

dma free, wiping th

't returned to you by sunrise. A

Keeping information hidden

he serpent. Ghirti held forth her ba

d Ghirti'

n you hold...m

The tail tight

ist as Mialtros rammed h

to be! I've known murde

his jaw an

inking we a

stomach brought

eal enou

tail. The serpent s

ten to me. We Gods and Guardians ar

iathia scrape slime from Dad's l

yone's got problems. Don't

thia looked at the serpent who

ng slowly between

k reversing t

sses an

palms agains

not make me let go of

the nape, lifting him so

and you flee to wreak havoc on a scale not seen in cen

etched h

what would have happened had I not interve

's blade embedding itself into th

perform a stunt like this again. Godly law won't protect you

d but nodd

to my ill handling of the situa

ree matron. She laid her face down on Ghirti's back. Xiathia danced about

ir house for treatment before settling on

lips smile in spit

kitchen did you? Ma is partic

tail. Mom lay at the joi

ing Mewl down into Ghirti's tail again, she

should be. Your mother will h

*

sat on the firepit in the center

coated in gravy. Somehow, she'd even cooked up bread,

e couldn't find the ap

eir beds. They hadn't roused sin

wasn't perfect, but it was a far cry bett

from the beds, sitting

eyes. She'd come to about the river bend. Nearly took Mewl's head off

lp her mother, saying he'd fe

bad about it at all, considering h

ed back so she could eat, Mialtros could see she

ece of meat,

should recover with rest and time. For all his talk,

bly hard on the meal...it wo

rodde

bandaging M

n two of everything. The disgruntled

y had already

g headache, and a twisted ankle, acc

en gentle wit

as the bandages started moving. S

ialtros

hed for a hu

eel, and see everything ma'am.

into them, nuzzling gently. She passed through them, causing her Mo

n ran her hands down Mialtros's

e heap of trouble this time hmm? What's your Pa a

around Mom's hands. The woman tweak

s mess, and set you to cleaning hog pens for the next decade. But...I know I ain't about to ha

around bit

for eternity. She'll be well c

awn behind

unt my worries darling. I'm holding t

ted her cup

erything in my power t

d Mialtros's aft

ead sinking forward slightly, "don't get too big...fo

per in her seat

ep my eyes....open any longer. A quick...cat-

-body flopped long before the urge to sleep

urling into the floor

ng powder. And you called my actions ques

l up. The rhythm of the woman's wa

ocked the

's. May the Gods and G

fing its wings. One by one, its bones snapp

inside. Ghirti's ribs clattered

ds the moon, Xiathia p