“The wingspan was thirty metres. The feathers were black — not the glossy black of a crow but the absolute black of shadow, the colour of the space between stars, each feather trailing dark energy that dripped like ink and sizzled where it hit the ground. The eyes — Garuda's eyes should have been golden, should have held the wisdom and benevolence of Vishnu's most faithful servant — the eyes were red. Arterial red. The red of blood seen through firelight.”