The beast opened its mouth over Rillhold's exposed west market. Smoke from the mill roof flattened the cook's fire before a window slammed, leaving four workers clinging to the ridge and shouting their count toward Asti's kitchen. Nessa searched the doorway for the fifth person, Asti's uncle, but he had not come out.
"They answered us a minute ago. I want five voices before anybody calls that roof empty," the cook said. He scored five spaces onto his board, leaving the last one open for Asti's uncle.
Ty stood beside the stove with Holl's strap holding his left shoulder against his ribs. He had only his right hand to grip the iron lip. The jaw chain ran out through Asti's window toward Jade, whose boot still held the white collar at the signal hatch on the other roadback. Every change in the beast's breath took the chain taut across Ty's chest.
