‘Hellorin, are you going to tell me about this other stranger?’ There was a sharp edge of impatience to Aerillia’s voice.

  ‘Very well.’ Hellorin reminded himself that he was there on her sufferance. ‘What do you know about the Xandim?’

  ‘Shapeshifters.’ Aerillia’s eyes stared off into the distance as she searched her memory. ‘Unusual in that they take horses as an alternative form. Most polymorphs tend to use carnivores - the nature of the hunter corresponds better with the aggressive, predatory d