I thudded, breathless, into a hard, dark shape as Max, in drach form, swooped beneath me, banking to catch me across his broad back.

My swearing was lost in the rush of wind, but I have no doubt from the rumbling chuckle rising from his warm, scaled body he found it amusing when I explained to him just how furious I was to be dumped out and left to fall to my death.

And then there was no time for talking, or no breath for it at least, as he caught a thermal current and ...