"Halfhead," Tanin said, deciding to change his approach. "Halfhead, listen to me. That dragon outside? I summoned it. I created it."

The giant froze, club in mid-swing, and turned back toward Tanin. His boots thundered across the floor. "What you mean?"

Tanin raised his chin and tried to appear ominous—at least, as ominous as a haggard, tied-up prisoner could appear. "I have an old magic, Halfhead. A magic that can turn people . . . into dragons."

Halfhead gasped and stepped back. "Halfhead scared of magic. Magic evil!"

"Very evil. Look."

Tanin took a deep breath and summoned his magic. Red scales flowed across him. Horns began to bud upon his head. Fangs lengthened in his mouth. Just as his body began to grow larger, Tanin froze the transformation. He lingered between human and dragon, small enough to keep the chains from tearing him apart. Holding the magic halfway inside him felt like keeping food halfway down his throat; it ached to go one way or the other.

"Do you see my magic?" he rumbled. "Do you see, Halfhead?"

Halfhead gasped, whimpered, and covered his eyes. "No . . . please. Don't hurt Halfhead."

Tanin released his magic, returning to human form. He stepped closer to the bars. "I have the magic to turn man into dragon. I created the dragon outside. I can create many more; I can turn every prisoner in these cells into dragons! Would you like that, Halfhead?"

The giant blubbered, fear of dragons and fear of his masters battling across his face. "Halfhead fight them all!" He swung his club. "Halfhead fight all the dragons."

Tanin narrowed his eyes and smiled thinly. "Would you fight even yourself?"

Halfhead froze and sucked in air. "What . . . what you mean?"

I'm sorry, Halfhead, Tanin thought. You have to let me out, even if it means I'll terrify you half to death.

"If you don't release me, Halfhead, I will turn you into a dragon." He snarled. "Open these bars and unchain me, or you will suffer this curse."

Halfhead whimpered. A stain spread across his pants as he wet himself. With trembling fingers, he pulled his ring of keys off his belt. He fumbled and dropped them twice before he found the right one. The barred door creaked open. For the first time in what felt like years, Tanin stumbled out into the hallway.

"And the chains," Tanin said.

Halfhead mewled and thrust his key into the chains' padlock. The bonds clattered to the floor, freeing Tanin at last.

Tanin placed his thin, pale hand against Halfhead's arm. "Thank you, my friend."

His legs were weak, his head spun, and his belly ached for food. But Tanin ran. On bare feet, clad in rags, he raced down the tunnel and found a staircase. All the guards were gone to fight the dragon, to fight Issari. Tanin stumbled up the stairs, wheezing and weak, and for the first time in many days he emerged into the sunlight.