The Wizard and the Sylph

The gnome, too, looked up at the sun, fingering the blade of its knife. "I won't let you die too quickly, horse-boy," the creature said, considering the half-glazed eyes with satisfaction. "For the first while, I'll just cut off bits of live flesh; whatever you can live without. Stops you from rotting too fast, see? Then, after a few weeks, there'll be nothing left of you left but bones . . ."