Slowly, he licked the blood that ran down the steel weapon.

The hall froze. The assistant reached to speak and was silenced by Haspan's flashing eye.

Hatred and hunger twisted his features.

He shoved the letter into the brazier and watched the flames lick the ink until the paper shriveled.

"Move!" he roared, voice echoing off stone. "Mount my fastest horses. We ride for Ashmoore. Find the Hybrid before dawn."

He slammed his fist on the table, then spun to the nearest raven keeper. ...