—Stanklo the Scribbler CHAPTER THIRTEEN STERNGRIM A breeze made by the flapping of small wings rustled my hair. Bats! I thought. We’ve disturbed a colony of bats! I was wrong. Whatever had landed on my neck had a long, twisting, snakelike body. It began to climb my head, needle-sharp claws piercing my scalp as it went. “Stop!” I cried, grabbing for it. “Why?” asked a soft voice. I pulled my hand back, startled, then realized I had understood the creature because of Solomon’s Collar. “Your claws are hurting me,” I cried, yelling to be heard above the shouts, screams, and bellows of my companions. “But I need to explore you,” it replied, head so close to my ear I felt its hot tongue flick against me. “Need to know what you are.” “I’m a people! What are you?” “Winged lindling.”
