He tumbled into the cave in human form. His knees banged against the craggy stone floor, and his teeth knocked together. Behind him, Maev shouted as she shifted back into a human. She too entered the cave, slamming against his back with a curse.

"Run deeper!" Tanin said. He pushed himself up and raced down the tunnel.

He could see nothing. Somewhere in his pack he had a tinderbox and an oil lamp, but he had no time to rummage for them. He moved as fast as he could, holding the walls for support. The tunnel was just wide enough for him to walk.

Maev moved behind him, holding his shoulder. "You're leading us to a dead end!"

Behind them, Tanin heard the rocs shriek. When he spun around, a flash of lightning illuminated the cave entrance. The great vultures were clawing at the stone, trying to enter, but were too large. A second bolt revealed the riders dismounting and climbing into the darkness.

Maev growled and drew her sword. The broad, leaf-shaped blade gleamed when lightning flashed again. "I'll kill them one by one."

He grabbed her arm and tugged her deeper. "Keep moving! I told you I had an idea. Come on!"

The shouts rose behind him, echoing in the chamber. An arrow whistled and slammed against the cave wall by Tanin's head. Another sliced his hair. He winced but kept running. Torches blazed behind, filling the cave with red light. Dragging Maev with him, Tanin rounded a bend an instant before arrows clattered into the wall where he'd just stood.

The cave became so narrow he had to stoop, then crawl on hands and knees. Icy water trickled beneath him. Maev crawled before him, cursing as she went.

"I'm not a damn worm," she said. "Let's fight them, Tanin."

He shoved her onward. "Keep crawling unless you want an arrow in your backside."

The shouts rose behind them. "The weredragons are trapped. Find them. Burn them. Slay the diseased creatures!" Men cursed, grunted, and spat. One burst into a rude song about buggering dragons with his spear. His companions laughed, and another shouted that he'd grab the female and thrust into her with the spear between his legs. That incurred more laughter from the men—and a fresh stream of curses from Maev.

"That's it!" she said, stopped crawling, and tried to turn around. "Get out of my way, Tanin, or I'll kill you before I kill them."

Tanin growled. "Keep moving!"

He gave her a mighty shove forward . . . and she vanished.

He blinked.

"Tanin, you sheep's wormy bladder!" she cried, voice distant and echoing.