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Mentally, Fenix marked his targets: The four points on the lizard where the magically prehensile straps of cloth terminated. The element of surprise would protect him for one cut, he estimated, but if he waited for the sorcerer's arms to bend at the perfect position it was possible he could hit them all in one swoop. He drew in a long breath and tensed his muscles to prepare for the foolish move he was about to make.

As the sadistic creature clawed, pinched, and squeezed his suffering captive, Fenix's calculating eyes kept picturing a wavy line that could connect the four targets. In moments, they aligned in a just barely viable row. This would have to do! Fenix pounced and his dark dagger lashed out with a swoop of dark flames.

In an instant, Fenix had dived past the lizard, dragging the tip of his blade in a lazy wave over the creature's back. It was uncomfortably risky, but it found home. Though it hardly scratched the fabric, it was enough to snap them. The bulging muscles straining under the bandages caused them to spring open and away, falling to the floor like writhing snakes. The dagger's shadowy flames spread over the bindings, consuming their magical energy with hisses and pops as though it were gunpowder. In moments they would be crumbling on the floor, robbed of the magic that had until now held them together.

Fenix landed lightly and tumbled sideways, completing the roll gracefully. The creature was stunned by the sudden disconnection from his magical bands and the nourishing energy they provided. The confusion lasted only a moment, however, before the burly lich turned his very angry face toward Fenix and roared, "Meddling pest!!"

"Now comes the hard part" thought the cat.