‘I said already, to get you and bring you back,’ snarled Moss. ‘Father said I could have you if I helped him get free, but he died just after we got free of the rebels, the old fool. Tripped down a gorge and broke his neck.’ He gave a cawing laugh that sent out a spray of saliva and blood. ‘So I decided I would have you anyway. I was coming up to get you from Bergold’s place but when I tickled the servant with a knife, he said the master and his sister had gone to live with the mutants at Obernewtyn. I was on the road up when I found the girl going all alone the same way. I remembered her red hair from Sutrium, when she went about with that uppity healer Dardelan crooned over. I caught her and used her to get me past the mutants and beast lovers.’

I wondered why Dragon had not used her powers to defend herself. Unless Moss had already been riddled with taint sickness when he captured her. His knife tip crept closer to the throbbing artery in the girl’s slender throat and I held my breath knowing that he had only to jerk and cut and she would bleed to death in seconds.

‘How did you know where Ana was?’ I asked softly, hoping he would shift position and get the knife away from Dragon’s throat.

Moss’s black hungry gaze swivelled to me and he said cryptically, ‘Blood knows blood.’

‘Let the child go and come to me,’ Analivia invited. Her voice was steadier now. ‘You want me, don’t you?’ There was a desperate, hideous coyness in her voice but her hand was moving towards the little sheath that held her belt knife. My heart began to pound for if she drew it out and tried to attack him, Moss would kill Dragon.

I was desperately trying to form a probe to stop her when Moss suddenly laughed. ‘Do you think I am a fool like Bergold, Analivia? I have felt your iron claw before. Take off the knife sheath and set it down beside you and then come to me. Better still, take off your clothes and come to me naked so I can see you are unarmed. You have filled out some since I last saw you so, and I would see how it suits you.’

I heard Swallow draw in a fierce, ragged breath of outrage, but my eyes were on the knife poised against Dragon’s throat.

‘Obey me or the mutant pig dies,’ Moss told his sister gloatingly. His mouth split into a feral lunatic grin. ‘Unless you would like me to kill it. Is that it? Are you jealous, Analivia? I did not use her for she is a mutant and to take such a one to my bed would be vile.’

‘Moss,’ I said softly. ‘You are hurt and hungry. Sit and I will give you some food and Ana can tend your hurts. We can talk. No one needs to die here.’