Hattie drew her flaming blade but, before she could bring it in line to menace the dark shadow lunging for her, the dog slammed into the pookah and knocked her to the ground.  He stood over Hattie and she saw eyes like cherry red coals in a soot black fur and ivory fangs bared in a growl that shook her bones.<br/>Ether broke deown the road and ran, calling for help.<br/>Circeras readied a stout defense but another dog focused on him and howled a blood chilling howl.  The bold warrior’s blood ran cold and he broke into a breakneck run.<br/>The third dog snapped for the trolls’s boot but jerked back as a heavy rock slammed into the ground between him.  His eyes swung towards Amy and he growled.<br/>Ether rounded fell into he arms of Alissara and Alice, who’d been walking down the road towards the freehold arm in arm.  “Ether,” the knight asked, “You’re white as a sheet!  What’s wrong?”  Ciceras had broken and fled in the opposite direction.<br/>