No such luck.Xaniban stepped to the side and gave me a nudge with his tail.I was suddenly on full display, and some twenty pairs of pupil-less eyes were on me.
On instinct, I pressed myself to Xaniban’s side.Dignifying, I know.But it gave me a sense of security I desperately needed in this pickle of a situation.Gripping his biceps, I whispered, “What’s going on?”
His wing pressed against my back, soft but reassuring.“Have no fear,” he murmured, then spoke loudly, “My brethren wish you no harm.They are simply surprised at my return with a human after so many years of abstention.”
His words were followed by a flap of wings by everyone present.Was that a ‘Yes, my king’?
“Perixal.”Xaniban turned to a chestnut-haired gargoyle in a red loincloth, the only one not dressed in black.
Perixal stepped forward and bowed.He was large, ripped, and with long hair straight out of a shampoo commercial, just like the others of his kind.I would assume these were palace guards, and he was their commander.Still, what did they feed these males?
“How many of my warriors have returned?”Xaniban asked.He spoke authoritatively, in full king mode now.
“Twelve, my liege.”
“Have they fully regenerated?”
“Yes.They are ready to serve you yet again.”
“Good.Summon them to the war room.Have they eaten?”
“Not yet.Food was just about to be served to them when our scouts informed us of your return.”
“Order the food served in the war room, then.I will not have my warriors deprived of sustenance.They can expect me to join them there.”
Perixal bowed again.“It shall be done, my liege.”
“As for our fallen brethren,” Xaniban continued, “I will personally inform their families of the loss.”
“Yes, my liege.”One more bow, and Perixal took flight.
I wanted to see where he was headed, but another gargoyle landed in his place, demanding my attention.
This one was blond and looked different than the rest.He was lean, with narrower shoulders and less defined muscles.His face had softer features, no sign of the rugged jawline everyone around me sported.I’d say he was a teen, but he might as well be a flat-chested female for all I knew.I studied his white loincloth.Was there a bulge under there?
“Have a robe ready for her.”
Wait, what did I miss?
“She needs clean clothes after her bath.”
“Yes, my liege.”
Wonderful.I had been so busy staring at gargoyle crotches I had missed part of Xaniban’s orders.Which happened to involve me.
“Will that be a white robe or a blue one?”the newcomer asked.His voice was distinctly masculine.
“The blue, Samuin.My human has been claimed by others before me.”
I sputtered.“Excuse me?”Had Xaniban just told an entire courtyard of males that I wasn’t a virgin?
And why did it sound like I was being prepped for him, like a dish to be served once washed and seasoned with a dressing of hischoice?
“Have some food delivered to her,” the almighty king continued with his orders, ignoring my murderous glare.“Her scent speaks of malnourishment.”
“Yes, my liege.Should I serve the food in your chambers or in the harem?”
“Harem?!”I took a step back from Xaniban.Perhaps this way my death stare would have an effect.
