Isabell's musings were interrupted by a gentle knock at the door followed by the entrance of the largest man the engineer had ever seen. More shocking than his bulk, however, were the furry claws with which he carried a serving tray and the bearish face that smiled broadly when he entered her sitting room.
"Master Isabell," Heila said, standing to help take the tray from the pot bellied cook who looked like he'd come directly from the kitchens. "Let me introduce you to another of Ashlynn's good friends here. This is Georg, and he's the Master of Kitchens here."
"Master Georg," Isabell said as she struggled to suppress the bone-deep reflex to run from the 'claw demon' who came bearing her breakfast. She'd heard, of course, about the Clan of the Great Claw and that they stood head and shoulders taller than most men. She'd even noticed how the ancient fortress seemed to have been built for people who were larger than any human, with door frames that were extra wide and tall.
