The dragon began to shift form in a process that reminded Sorrow of watching humans stuff sausage. The dragon seemed to shrink and compress and stuff her own massive body into the body of a human female. The procedure took time, and Maristara had barely completed her transformation before the door burst open, banging against the wall, and a monk ran inside.

The monk came up short, his horrified gaze going first to the grisly carcass, then to the strange woman standing over it. The woman was middle-aged, with gray hair; a taut, bony face and a lank, bony body.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” the monk demanded.

Sorrow recognized him as Leopold, one of the commanders of the dragon’s army, and she wondered what he was doing walking about the city (where the soldiers were not supposed to venture) in monk’s garb. He was not rattled, but composed, advancing into the room with his hands raised.

“I am Lucretta, the Mistress of Dragons,” the woman answered, haughty and intimidating. She drew forth the locket that hung around her human neck and held it to the light.

Leopold relaxed. Bowing low, he murmured, “Mistress,” in respectful tones.

“What do you know of this murder?” Maristara gestured to the carcass. “Was it the Walker?”

“No, Mistress. I was with the Walker the entire time. The Dragon’s Son killed Grald.”

“Impossible!” exclaimed Maristara.

“There can be no other explanation, Mistress. Grald chose this night to take over Ven’s body for his own . . .”

Sorrow’s blood tingled. A chill rippled through her and her clawed hands clenched.

“... I sent the Dragon’s Son to him and then I left, as he ordered me, to find the Walker and make certain that he did not interfere. Draconas never left my sight the entire night. Unless some other dragon intervened . . .”

“No,” said Maristara. Her gaze looked far away, probing and seeking other dragon minds. “No other dragon was here.” She was silent, her eyes narrowed, prying and jabbing. “Where is he, the Dragon’s Son?”

“I do not know, mistress. He must have fled-—”

“He tries to hide from me, but I see the blood spattered on the cavern walls. I see his guilt. I had no idea he was so powerful.”

“They are all powerful, Mistress,” Leopold said grimly. “Powerful and dangerous.”

“The dragon’s children, you mean.”

“Yes, Mistress.” He hesitated. “May I speak plainly?”

“Of course. You know our secrets, I see. Grald evidently trusted you.”

“I had that honor,” said Leopold quietly. “I am one of the commanders of the dragon warriors. I have been in training all my life for the war against humankind. I was raised with the dragon children. I have trained to fight alongside them. I am not the only one who is made uneasy by what I have seen of them. I could say nothing against the children to Grald. He was, understandably, quite proud of his offspring.”