Bird of Chaos: Book One of the Harpy's Curse (43 page)

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Susie Mander lives in Sydney, Australia. Her first encounter with fantasy was hunting for fairies with her grandmother in the garden when she was five. She studied fantasy at the University of Sydney as part of her Bachelor of Arts. She also has a Bachelor of Teaching/Master of Teaching though due to the education system’s preoccupation with realism she has only had the opportunity to teach fantasy once.

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I’m going to die
.

My lungs scream out in pain. My calm ebbs like the tide. My brain protests. I’m claustrophobic; the vast ocean is a heavy blanket that’s smothering me. I’m a Tibutan. I’m used to being under water, but this is too much. If I don’t surface soon, I’ll surely perish.

The monstrous panic refuses to let go. It has a vice-like grip around my chest. Thrashing, I break through and take my first gulp of air.

Thank the Moon, the Elysians and the tides!

The swell is high. A wave rumbles above me and drags me back. Just as I get my balance another takes me by surprise and thrusts me forwards. I tumble head over heels.

Yes. I am going to die
, I think.

Another wave looms above me and I am dragged back under. I muster all my strength to push to the surface again, kicking frantically. My sword drags me down. I hear a man’s voice calling over the waves. I am under again. I wait for the lull between waves then push up. A surge carries me in and just when it threatens to drag me under, something snags my collar. There is the sound of ripping fabric as I am lifted from the water.

The man looking down at me has the darkest eyes. His if the confidence of one who knows his place in the world and does not question it. This Caspian is like no man I have ever seen and he is frowning at me.