The Mad Ship (Liveship Traders, #2)

by Robin Hobb

‘Too late for her,’ he whispered. Malta did not know if he spoke to her or about her. ‘Too late for her. Wide wings hang above her. She crouches like a mouse in the owl’s falling shadow. Her little heart beats to bursting. See how she trembles. But it is too late. Too late. She sees her. Know me as well!’ He threw back his head. The laughter roared from him. ‘I was a king!’ He was incredulous in his triumph. ‘I was lord of the three dominions. But you have made me this. A shell, a toy, a slave!’ Perhaps lightning struck her from the still-blue sky. She fell into a roaring black gulf. She tumbled, soundless, through endless black space. Then from nowhere, a flash of gold appeared. It was too large a shape for her to see it all. In an instant, it loomed too close to her to be seen. Great talons seized her, wrapping around her chest and waist. They squeezed the air from her. She clawed at them, but they were armoured in scales like metal. She could not pry them loose to let herself breathe. Nor did she want to fall to her death if they let go of her. Choose a death, a dragon whispered. That’s all you have left, pretty little one. The choice of your death. No! She is mine, mine! Let her go! Prey belongs to he who seizes it first!