Excerpt

The humans arrived a moment later. The male shoved another guest from a chair, then chivalrously offered the emptied seat to the female.

The displaced dragon scrambled to his feet. “I demand satisfaction!”

The human, without turning around, stabbed his sword backward into the chest of the dragon.

“Satisfied?”

The dragon tumbled with a thump.

“Now I remember why I liked you, Yadezkra,” said Korien. “What’s your name this time around?”

“Yorgash, Your Majesty.”

“Yorgash, Yorgash. Ah, our food. I hope you don’t mind, Yorgash. I ordered human heart.”

“Every one to his own taste, Your Majesty,” Yorgash said blandly.

The proprietress placed the chalices before them. Each goblet contained a human heart on a bed of crushed ice, glazed in honey and sugar and topped with chopped pineapple.

“I ordered for you and your wife as well.”

“Your thoughtfulness is touching.” Yorgash picked up the prong and used it appropriately to maneuver the heart. He crunched and visibly swallowed.

“A bit tough,” he critiqued. “The heart of a fallen gladiator, I’d wager. You should try children, especially the spoiled fat ones who’ve been stuffed with too much cake. Much more tender. I’ve found traitors often have such children.”