Torin the dragon rider (TOME 12 of the TIAMAT'S WARS SERIE)

Neck ache

A few minutes later, a black van pulled up in the Rue des Chalets. The road was winding and only one car could pass at a time.

Christophe immediately recognised the heavy van and the sliding door slammed shut.

The lights were on full blast with candles in every corner.

The Kobolds were around Annabelle, Christophe's wife. She dried their tears and they headed for the bathroom where a grooming shower was set up for the dog. They all went under the shower and into the bath for a scrubbing and all their rags were put in the wash.

Then they were given new, clean clothes and Grimm helped Annabelle dress her little brothers and sisters.

In another room out of sight, Christophe was chatting with one of his mates.

"Viper! it's been a while!!!... I see you're still on duty..!"

"Chris... yes... I haven't hung up yet... you know... the action... well... you know...."

"Yes you still have your boots and your toothpick!"

"Yeah, talk about a penknife..."

Christophe sniffed.." You smell... like a reptile..."

"Hah! Chris... you and your dog's sense of smell... and why would I smell like a reptile???"

Christophe stood up and pulled his shirt down to reveal a long, red swipe.

"I think I have broken ribs... You have no idea..."

Then he took his tablet and showed the surveillance film.

A woman with her face hidden by sunglasses, then poof, disappeared from the picture and we see her reappear like that, suddenly in the protected room. We saw her from behind and not well the Kobold but we saw her send Christophe into the background like a straw, crush him and take the gun from him, see him grow a tail, horns and a horrible crocodilian head, lift a child and then disappear like a ninja. Poof!

Christophe gave him the gun.

"Can't you see anything?"

"Er, yes, it's welded?"

"No, her claw slipped in here to lock the safety. She did it so well that the metal was twisted here, and here... and the barrel is warped... You can't imagine the force. It was like a block of iron.

It bends the metal like paper... and it disappears and appears where it wants! It's a monster I tell you... it's a monster...!"

Dragons... they are monsters... and... you know the best one???? They have slaves!

Viper: "Slaves??? what are you talking about???"

Grim was still sore and had trouble breathing.

Annabelle had put a bandage on her with anti-inflammatory ointment to deflate any blow or bruise.

She was lying on her back, moaning in pain while Annabelle put ice on her.

The others were drying themselves in a corner, motionless, terrified.

Grimm licked Annabelle's hand and wanted a hug. They were afraid to go out, to move. They were afraid of Darkia.

Then Ralf exploded: "The Queen of Darkness has marked us! She's going to devour us while we sleep!" Then he cried...followed by the others...

It was a strange whistling choir..with a Kobold accent...

Viper entered with Christophe..

"Christopher.. don't tell me you..you kidnapped dragonets??? we're gonna...we're gonna get slaughtered!!"