Chapter twelve
In the Hall of Notor ZanAs that macabre and horrific scene went on, I stood there calculating my chances. Although I did not sweat I grew decidedly warm. Another screaming wretch was thrown to the manhounds. These jiklos had been well trained, for they disposed of him in a cat-like, playful, obscene way. When he was dead they did not eat him, crunching on his bones with their jagged teeth; instead they pushed the mangled body aside and looked up, sniffing, their tongues lolling, waiting for the next victim.
“The army does not deserve this!” breathed a Jiktar next to Rees.
Rees the lion-man said, “The army lost. We were defeated. That is a personal affront to the Queen.”
I carefully edged a little away from Rees and Chido. Our weapons had been taken from us, but we had be
