I’ve never been particularly afraid of heights or flying, but being carried hundreds of meters above the ground by a creature that might, on a whim, let go of me at any moment was not my idea of fun. I held fast to the lizardlike foot that had clamped around my chest, bracing my arms and trying not to make any sudden movements that might cause the creature to change its grip. The wind whistled past, whipping my hair and causing my pant legs to flutter and my eyes to water. The night air was still warm, but I shivered anyway.