“Come on,” Zariasaid, grinning.“I’m an easy target.”
He blinked again.Hesaw the scar on her nose.He saw the poleaxe rising behind her back, helddiagonal in its sheath.He noted the injuries still weeping beneath her vest,the pieces of scavenged leather, the belts crossing her figure.He saw herbreasts bouncing beneath a thin strip of cloth.
“Lookin’ atsomething?”
He turned away,sharply.“No.I refuse.”
“What’d you mean,refuse?”
“I mean,” Isaacsaid, shrugging away her hand and stepping to the side, “that I won’t play yourgame.I won’t insult you.Clearly, you’re trying to bait me again.”
“Squire, I assureyou—”
“I’m not yoursquire!”
Zaria looked down athim, her smile creeping wider.
“Don’t laugh at me,”he said.
She broke into a snicker.
“Your games arechildish,” Isaac said.“Completely undignified.I’d expect more gracefulconversation from the mouth of a privy.”
“Was that aninsult?”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“You compared me toa toilet.”
“Yes, but—”
She mimed the soundof a fart.
“Shut up!”
The hyena reared herhead back, cracking up into open laughter.The dunes echoed with her voice.Itwas deep and rough and lilting.
“Zaria,” Isaac said.
She continued tolaugh.
“Zaria!”
She shook her head,trying to clamp it down.“Yes, squire?”
“Fine!”Isaacshouted, much louder than he expected.“Fine!You know what?I willinsult you!I do have grievances to air!Gods, do I ever!”
She tried to fighther grin.
“First of all, andthis is no small matter, but you have an utterlyboorishsnore!Itsounds like a sawmill!It’s worse than my uncle, and I used to hear him fromthe top of the tower!Gods above, I thought the wyrms would find it a matingcall!”
Zaria scratched theridge of her snout.“Sorry, love.Broke my nose a year back.Never healedproper.”
“And by the grace ofIvtarr,” Isaac continued, “you smell!You have an utterlyegregiousodor!It’s on every breeze I feel, every breath I take!I would rather bathe insewage and entrails than rub against you again!”
Her tail began towag.
“And do you knowwhat I honestly despise the most?What I can’t find it in me to forgive, aboveall else?”
