Page 58 of Knight of the Sword

“Ask you what?” Pendragon said.

“Never mind,” Sophie said quickly and turned to look out the window. “Why don’t you two just enjoy the scenery?”

“I am,” Michael said with a grin.

“I meant—Look. There’s an alligator.”

Pendragon stuck his snout out the rear window they’d opened for him and caught the gator’s scent. “He’s a relative of dragons. Where are his wings?”

“Alligators don’t fly,” Michael replied, “even though there might be some resemblance to you.”

“Hmph,” Pendragon answered. “This seems like a strange world around here.”

“It is,” Sophie answered, glad to change the subject. “What looks like acres of sawgrass waving in the wind is actually marshy sloughs that flow toward the ocean. The trees you see standing in ponds of water are cypress, and the others that look like they’re raised up are hardwoods growing on islands called hummocks.”

“Now who’s been Googling?” Michael asked.

“Not Googling,” she replied, refusing to give in to his sexy smile—the one with no dimple. “Biology. I’m a vet, remember? The Everglades is home to a variety of species—interesting birds like anhingas and bald eagles, poisonous pit vipers, deadly coral snakes, boas and pythons too. Deer and alligators, small game. And, of course, the endangered panther.”

Michael’s grin widened. “Okay, Teacher. Tell us more.”

She ignored his taunt. This, at least, was a safe subject. “Male cats can weigh as much as two hundred twenty pounds. They’re territorial. Two males can’t stay in the same territory. Their main prey are deer—”

“Stop!” Pendragon interrupted.

Michael slowed the car, pulling over to the sandy shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Sigurd is here. I can smell him.” Without waiting for an answer, Pendragon leapt out the window.

“Damn it, get back in here!”

Pendragon paid no attention, lifting his wings instead and flying toward a cypress grove not far away.

Michael cursed again and opened his door to get out. “You stay put,” he said to Sophie. “Who knows what’s out there.” Turning, he ran for the grove.

“Like I’m going to obey you.” Sophie got out and followed him, hobbling as fast as she could. She could hear both of them slushing through shallow waters. For a moment, she thought of water moccasins. Then she squared her shoulders. They were making so much noise and movement that any smart snake would get out of the way. She just hoped the gators basking on the sun-warmed mud banks would be too lazy to move unless they were hungry… What time did they feed?

She moved cautiously through the more densely shaded part of the grove toward an area where sunlight filtered through the leaves. The usual cacaphony of birdsong, frog-croaks and general insect noise suddenly stopped. Behind her, she heard the sudden splashing of gators slipping into the marshy streams. Not taking time to look behind her, she ploughed ahead.

The trees gave way to a grassy meadow of sorts, but as she burst into it, she saw all hell was about to break loose.

Pendragon hovered a few feet above the ground, wings flapping furiously, unable to actually fly. Michael stood close to him and, only a few feet from both of them, a panther and his mate crouched low, snarling. Smoke began to spew from the dragon’s nostrils as he tried to hurl fire, but no flames came.

The panthers separated, slinking low on their bellies as they began to circle their victims. Michael’s form began to vibrate and, as Sophie watched, he morphed into a panther himself, a sleek cat with a blue-black coat. Snarling, he stalked toward the male.

Sophie blinked. What in God’s name was happening? Was Michael using an illusion? She couldn’t tell.

A flare of fire shot past her, singeing the female cat’s paws. She growled but turned and slunk into the trees to lick her paws. Pendragon crashed to the ground, exhausted from his effort. Sophie looked back toward Michael as the other panther leaped to attack him. The two of them went down, claws digging, fangs trying to bite deep into each other’s necks. The panther rolled on top of Michael, leaving his belly exposed. Its mighty jaws opened—

“No!” Sophie screamed, extending her hands. A sharp pain pierced her as the surge of energy pulsed through her and made the world spin. She sank to the ground, nearly blinded by the light that shot from her fingers. The male panther flew back, bouncing against a tree, then falling limply into the sawgrass around it. Michael lay still on the ground in the middle of the glade, but Sophie had no strength left to go to him as she slowly collapsed beside Pendragon.

****

Sophie slowly opened her eyes to the dim interior of a small room that smelled of fresh linens and a hint of eucalyptus. The bed she was lying in was supersoft—filled with feathers, she guessed.

“You’re awake! How do you feel?” Michael rose from the chair he’d been sitting in and came over to the bed.

“A little groggy. Where am I?”