The Bullhorn was one of the Noctuans most familiar. He was the only one of his kind. A great beast no less than eight feet tall. It towered over Draven by almost two feet, a double-headed axe in its elongated sausage fingers, long pointed nails like daggers digging into the wood of its hilt. The Bullhorn had the head of the Ulfram, the lengthy tree-limb like magnificent grey horns of the bull, and the torso of a man. Its lower body was more like the haunches of the bull, but it stood on its wheel-sized hooves upright. The black thick fur that covered its entire body was thick around its hips, and splayed out as a mane around his head and down his back in a V. His darkened purple eyes stared at Draven, and Aydra could feel the pull of the great beast’s core in her own.
She closed her eyes and listened for his voice, for the groan and ripple of its vibration. And then she heard him.
—idiot like Parkyr before him, the beast was saying.
Aydra snorted and quickly clapped her hand over her mouth upon hearing it. She couldn’t comprehend what Draven was doing, or what he was instructing his people to do around the Bullhorn, but she heard the Bullhorn continue to insult Draven.
Why do you follow if you think him such?she called out to it.
The Bullhorn’s head rose slowly, and she was met with his penetrating gaze. His eyes blinked slowly at her.Daughter of Arbina, he acknowledged.
You have met us before?she asked.
Only such could converse with me.
What is your name?
Cees.
I am Aydra Ravenspeak. Why do you follow these men if you think they are idiots?
On my life will theirs be taken.
Draven was staring at the Bullhorn, apparently bewildered at the low grunts emitting from his throat. Aydra pulled herself between the slats beneath the deck rail and allowed her legs to dangle off the side.
“He says you are an idiot,” she called down.
Draven whirled around and did a double-take up at her. “Excuse me?” he spat.
“Cees. The Bullhorn. He says you are an idiot,” she repeated.
The ivory horn Draven was holding clenched in his fist. “And you would know this how?”
“Because I can hear them,” she said with a tired shrug. “I would have thought someone who thinks he is as smart as he is would have figured that out by now. Especially after last night.”
Draven’s jaw tightened. “What are you doing out of bed?”
“I can manage just fine,” she argued. “Do you have an extra horse? I expect one ready to ride within the hour. My sister and Second will be looking for me. I need to meet them on the Preymoor.”
A deep chuckled radiated from Draven’s lips, and he turned to face her, arms crossing over his chest. “Who exactly do you think you’re speaking to? Your steward?” he mocked with a shake of his head. “I take no orders from you, little princess.”
Aydra’s nostrils flared. “I am your Queen. And if not—”
“I have no queen,” Draven interjected, his dark gaze pouring through her. “So before you get all mighty and start giving out orders, remember who’s realm you’re injured in.”
A rustling came from the wood, and emerged three more Hunters, all with their weapons in hand, daring her to mock another word.
Aydra looked to Cees.
Are you sure you would give your life for his?she asked it.
Cees gave her a nod.Idiots. But my life remains his should he need it.
“Stop putting words in their heads,” Draven snarled. “They are not yours to lead.”
Aydra rolled her eyes. “Believe me when I say this, Hunter: I would not call on them were it the day of my death.”
She stayed outside and watched them a bit longer before retiring once more to the bedroom. She had to crawl back. Such was something she dared not reveal to the Venari King below, for she did not want to hear the mocking words from his lips when he saw her crawling on her hands and knees.
