"True," he said, "but you're overdoing it. You don't need that much strength to kill someone, you're burning through your energy at a high rate when you cast like that."

"Since when have you been an expert in magic?" she asked.

"I'm not, it was merely a suggestion."

"In my defence, magic doesn't work that way."

"Now it's my turn not to understand," he said.

"We learned many things at the Volstrum," she explained, "and one of the principles of magic is that when you release it, it must be unleashed in one big effort. A battle mage can't afford to hold back."

"But aren't you afraid of the magic consuming you?" Athgar asked.

Natalia was struck dumb by his remark, a look that didn't go unnoticed.

"What's the matter?" he asked. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's just that sometimes I have that same feeling, as if I'm about to lose control. It happened back in Draybourne, in the alleyway. What made you use that phrase, about consuming you?"

She waited for Athgar's response, but there was nothing. Tearing her eyes from the trees to look at him, she hoped that he was merely mulling things over, but he was staring at the eastern bank of the river, his hands gripping the railing tightly. "What is it?" she asked.

"Somethings moving," he said. "I'd better get my bow." He ran towards the bow of the boat, where their belongings were piled, meagre as they were.

"Captain?" called out Natalia. "Athgar has spotted something."

Captain Howe moved to the railing. "I don't see anything," he called back.

Athgar, having retrieved his bow, was now in the process of stringing it. "Rygaurs!" he said.

"What, in the name of the Saints, is a rygaur?" asked the captain.

As if in answer, a terrible keening emanated from the woods, echoing across the river, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

The Therengian, arrow notched, stood ready, scanning the distant tree line. "They're hideous creatures," he explained. "The Orcs describe them as goblin-like."

"Goblins? But they're small," said Howe, "hardly a threat to the Marianne."

"Small, yes, but these fly, and they have razor-sharp teeth. Prepare yourselves, they tend to attack in groups."

An eruption of leaves flew into the air as the strange creatures emerged from their perches. There were at least a dozen of them, their distinct screeching pealing across the water. Hovering in place for but a moment, they came at the boat in a swarm.

Athgar took aim, watching as they drew closer. He had never seen one in person, but the Orcs feared them, and that was enough for him. He let fly with his arrow, but the range was too far, the shot falling harmlessly into the water. Natalia blasted one with an ice shard, hitting the creature's wing. It fell to the ground, twirling as it plummeted.