They'd poisoned me, dammit. Probably to trade my dead body to the barbarians for Wulfgar's safe return. Or maybe just for the fun of it.

Mothers are legendary for being able to read the thoughts of their children at just the right moment.

If you don't like vampire games, don't play

Then, early, early, early in the morning-just as in countless Disney films-I heard a rooster crow. But guess what? They don't do it just once.

The wolf sniffed beneath the door to be sure this was a human cottage. The scent was undeniable. No pigs, except in bacon form. The wolf thought bacon form was a very sensible way for pigs to behave.

There, close enough to spit on--if I'd been a barbarian and inclined to spit--was the dragon.

Number one rule for fiction: Coincidence can be used to worsen a characters predicament, but never to solve his problems.