“The craft passed directly below Scathach and she released her grip and dropped onto the top of the vimana alongside Joan with enough force to send the larger craft plunging down. The French immortal laughed. "So nice of you-""Don't you dare crack any dropping-in jokes," Scathach warned before her friend could finish.The vimana dipped and spun, but the two women had firm grips on the transparent dome and held on while the pilot tilted the craft,attempting to shake them off."So long as he doesn't get too close to the lava," Scatty said, "we should be okay."At that moment the vimana dropped straight down, zooming dangerously close to the lava's sluggish bubbling surface."I think he heard you," Joan said, coughing as the air became almost unbreathable.”

“The only consolation we have is that few of those will have active weapons either," Prometheus told them.Palamedes looked over at Scathach. "When you say 'few...,'" she began."Some will be armed," Prometheus clarified."Incoming!" Saint-Germain yelled. "Two of them have launched missiles.""Sit down and strap yourselves in," Prometheus commanded. The group scrambled to get into the seats behind him, and he added, "We're too slow to outrun them, and the smaller ones are infinitely more maneuverable.""Is there good news?" Scathach demanded."I am the finest flier in Danu Talis," The Elder said.Scathach smiled. "If anyone else said that I would think they were boasting. But not you,Uncle."Prometheus glanced quickly at the Warrior. "How many times do I have to tell you-I'm not your uncle.""Not yet,anyway," she muttered under her breath."Everyone strapped in?" Prometheus asked. Without waiting for an answer, he brought the triangular vimana straight up into the air, then flipped it back, so that the ground was directly overhead and the sky below them, before he leveled it off and the earth and sky resumed their normal positions."I'm going to throw up," Scatty muttered.”

“He's never fired a gun in his life," Palamedes said. "He abhors weapons."As Palamedes spoke,the group could see Shakespeare put the tonbogiri to his shoulder,then jerk three times.Two of the attacking vimanas spun out of control,both of them crashing into two more. The flour flaming craft spiraled into the sea."But then he's always been full of surprises," Palamedes added.”

“You slow. Is Dangerous." His tentacles curled down, gripping the ends of the wood. As they watched he slid off the crate and nudged it away. Underneath was a grate, filthy with slude. He plunged his tentacles into the gaps and pulled it aside. "There is drop.”

“He pulled her back, off balance so that she fell against him, and he took her face in his two hands and held it very still while his eyes looked down into hers. Somber, truthful, painfully honest. "I love you, Chloe," he said. "Which is the most dangerous thing I could do.”

“....He barely hesitated. "Then shall I ruin you, dragon?" "Yes please," she said. And she let the brown dress drop on the floor between them, closing her eyes once more.”