"What are you doing down here?" Luthur asked, his voice soft and cold, sending a dark chill down Katia's spine.
"I was looking for Anastasia."
"But I told you that the dragon escaped and took her with him."
"I had to see with my own eyes," she said, gazing around the dismal surroundings with uncertainty. She'd so blindly let Luthur school Anastasia in the ways of the soldier, in warfare. Suddenly, she wondered if she hadn't done so with rash detriment.
"Is something wrong?"
At Luthur's words, she gasped, looking up. He stood, closer now, mere feet away, regarding her intently, his eyes seeing more than she wanted him to.
"Luthur, I----I think," she stammered, curling her fingers tighter around the weapon, feeling its cold indifference penetrate through her to the marrow.
"Yes," he p
