Zerra stood very still, staring, the burning branch still clutched in his hand. The flames were licking his wrist, but he would not drop the stick.

"Two hundred spears tipped with bronze," the chieftain said. "Two hundred swords and ten thousand arrows. A breastplate and helm for every warrior in my army, chalices for them all to drink from, and plates inlaid with jewels. And you will send me three smiths and a hundred miners, so that we may forge the metal on our own. That is my price to you. Promise me these things, and I will slay the dragons for you, all but Laira. She will be mine to break, then yours to keep."

The man is greedy, Raem thought. The man is cruel. This is exactly the man I need.

He nodded. "They will be yours." He turned to leave, walked toward the tent door, then froze and looked over his shoulder. "Is it true, then? That your brother is a weredragon?"

The chieftain grinned horribly, displaying his rotting teeth. "Twin brother. I will kill him last . . . and slowest."

Raem turned to leave again. This time Zerra's words stopped him.

"And is what I hear true as well?" the chieftain called out. "That your own son, your heir and prince, is one of the diseased creatures?"

Raem's throat tightened. He clenched his jaw. He looked back at the chieftain and found the man smirking.

"Concern yourself with my daughter, not my son, barbarian. He is mine to deal with; she will be yours."

With that, Raem stepped outside the tent, stood in the wind and mist, and felt the old rage, fear, and sickness rise inside him. He craved. He needed the release.

He needed to become the reptile.

The urge nearly blinding him, he approached his demon. He mounted the creature, spurred her flanks, and soared into the sky. As he left the tribe far below, he realized he was digging his fingernails into his palms. The blood dripped down his arms and Raem narrowed his eyes and prayed to his god.

TANIN

 
TANIN

Tanin walked through the city of stone, seeing demons everywhere.

"By the stars, Tanin," Maev whispered, walking beside him. His gruff, golden-haired sister clutched her bronze sword under her fur cloak. "This place is as haunted as your undergarments." She sniffed and wrinkled her nose. "Smells as bad too."

Tanin scowled. "This is no time for your jokes. Keep both eyes wide open. We're looking for Vir Requis."

She thrust out her bottom lip, looking around her. "So are about a thousand demons."

The creatures flew above, cackling and beating insect wings. They laughed upon palm trees and domed roofs. They ran through the streets, chasing women, pawing and groping and tearing off garments. Some creatures were small, no larger than cats, scuttling little things on crab legs. Others were as large as horses—some scaled, some bloated, some creatures of bones and horns, others balls of slime.