The figure’s exposed arms were so scarred and burnt they almost looked like they were covered with scales. Bright silver hair hung down over the man’s frighteningly large, glowing eyes.

It could have been mere minutes or long hours. It had felt the same to her then, the seconds catching in her throat, waiting with her breath before she forced them out, forced time to move.

The city had fallen, his parents had died, no shred of their old lives would be left by the shape-shifters, but there were still lords galloping around on horses that could uphold the old rules. The destruction and desperation had afforded Alistair a few moments of freedom to practice magic, but now he would go back to the life of poverty and misery and powerlessness that he had been born to.

Just because your mother is dead that does not mean you can stop being her son.

and the uniform jacket he wore was so tattered and dirty that there could only be one reason he still had it. It must mean something to him, hold some particular importance.

There was no water for miles on end here, not even a small lake, and he was starting to feel like a man trapped in a prison.

Being helpless can cause a man an early death," Enki said sourly, "But the others will be back for us soon and then it'll be all over.

Alkaid had never opened up to anyone like this, but Enki did not feel special, just tired.

Mother would not like him to be too rude to this girl, even if she was the spoiled little monster for whose entertainment his life had been ruined.

We’ll start with an easy one, shall we? What is the secant of three pi?” The troll asked. “Pie?” Toru felt suddenly hungry. “What are you talking about, man, have you gone senile? A sea camp? You mean like the floating city?