We were almost home when the familiar sight of a drach soared through a gash in the veil over Ostrogotho and settled in to keep pace with the transport. I'd already been in touch with Syd, filling her in on the absence of Nunaresh, and could only assume she'd called in support in the form of the dragon-like first race.

The massive drach could be one of two, I figured and, when Mabel's mind touched mine, I was oddly happy to realize it wasn't Max who'd come to Syd's ...