Instead, Lugg came to life. With a cry of desperation he swung the sword he still carried, aiming it at the dragonrider's head. She knew it was futile. The rider's magical defences, his superhuman reactions, would protect him. Even if Lugg struck, he surely wasn't strong enough to do any real damage.
But, incredibly, the blade bit, and the dragonrider flew backward through the air, like some superpowered kill in a computer game.
The rider shrieked in agony. As he crashed to the ground, the swirling lines on his face burned a furious red, a fire raging through them. Smoke coiled off his head and a sickening smell of singed flesh filled the air.
Cait stepped backward in horror. The rider clawed at his skin as he flailed, flames licking him. He managed to rise to his knees, features invisi
