Karasu laughed softly and slid his claws across--sometimes through--the membrane of the mangled wing. "You're very good at this," he praised, "but I think you can do better."

He only used small charges, when he used his explosives at all. For the most part, he entertained himself with his claws and with the sharp edge of the serrated dagger he pulled from his coat. There was no need to let the bat know precisely what it was for. Not yet.