Jig tried to relax. The tips of his fingers grew warm, as if he had dipped them into a bucket of water. Was this magic? He could feel the sensation move through his wrists and into his arms. He pulled back involuntarily when it reached his neck. This was too much like drowning.

Trust me.

Back to trust again. Was Jig gullible, or simply dumb as dung? Probably a bit of both, but he didn’t have much of a choice. Shadowstar wouldn’t help him out only to drown him. He tried to relax, but he couldn’t get enough air. His chest felt tight, and he breathed faster, struggling to inhale. Why couldn’t he breathe? He heard himself panting like an animal, but the sound was growing distant. He was dying again.

You’re hyperventilating. Stop it. Think about . . . whatever it is goblins do to relax. Killing and eating, or something like that.

Jig tried to concentrate on what was happening on the other side of Straum’s lair. He forced himself to inhale and hold it for a few seconds, breaking up the frantic rhythm of his breathing. He exhaled slowly, turned his head, and tried to put Shadowstar out of his mind.

Very little time had passed since Straum flung Jig into the wall. His conversation with the god must not have taken as long as he thought. Barius and the others still stood in front of the dragon, apparently stunned by the attack on Jig.

Jig twitched an ear, which didn’t hurt as badly as the rest of him, and tried to listen.

“You shouldn’t have gone and killed him, not after he found your precious rod.” That was Darnak. His protests were feeble, though. Did he expect an apology from the dragon?

“There are things you have to learn if you’re going to live to see your five-thousandth birthday. One of the first is that when someone betrays you, you kill him. Preferably in a way that teaches a lesson to his friends.”

That was a warning, to make sure the rest of the group cooperated. Jig wondered if Barius had noticed it. Not that he would change his plans if he had. In his own way, Barius was as loyal as Darnak. He might hate his brother, but he would still die for the chance to avenge Ryslind’s destruction.

Jig had no problem with Barius dying. Indeed, he would have been far happier if Straum had chosen to break Barius against the wall instead of him. Barius could die happy and alone, knowing his had been an honorable end, while the rest of them crept quietly out of the lair and back to somewhere safe.

Instead he expected Barius to get them all killed when he tried to attack Straum. Unless he managed to win. Was it possible? He was a prince and an experienced adventurer. He had the Rod of Creation.