Beal rattles every single shell which cascades over his body. His tail has gone, replaced by a set of muscular legs which are covered in what looks like fabric made out of fish scales, messy and iridescent.
“There is nothing this little scrap can do to harm me, Thegn.” He stares down his Roman nose at me. “I am a god, and she is nothing but bait for a bigger prize.”
WARDEN
Idrop my head into the stream, taking huge gulps of the icy cold water. The Warhorse did not want to stop, but somehow I made it, my flanks steaming in the chilly early spring air. Hooves stomp as the water goes down my throat, cooling, soothing, necessary.
“You look interesting from behind.”
I raise my head with a grunt, swinging around to find the source of the remark.
Linton stands on a nearby rock gazing down at me.
“And you have a horse head,” he says. “Where’s your usual head?”
“Warhorse,” I whinny.
“What?”
“Warhorse!”
Linton shakes his head and points at his antennae.
“Not getting it.”
“WARHORSE.”
Linton shrugs. I shift into my Brag form.
“I AM A WARHORSE.”
“No, you’re Warden,” Linton points out. “Not all horse.”
I paw the ground in frustration which is pointless where Linton is concerned.
“What are you doing here?” I fire out.
“My mate was worried. I said I’d come and look for you,” Linton responds. “And her sister.” He peers carefully at me. “But you don’t have a human with you.”
“The Thegn took her.”
Linton’s wings flare. Before he met his mate, the entire area would have probably been covered in the fine dust he sheds, but apparently if you get a Bluecap mated, they become able to shed on command, rather than just…everywhere.
“You have aThegn?” he rasps.
“You want it? I’m sure it can be arranged.”
Linton wrinkles up his face. “I killed one once. It was messy.”
“Fancy helping me kill another?”
For a moment, a look of raw desire flits over Linton’s face, his red eyes widening. Then he shakes his head.
“I have a mate. She is with young,” he says.
First time I have ever heard Linton contemplate not joining in a fight. Irritated as I am, because all I want to do is get to my lady, I have some grudging respect for the weird monster.
“So be it.” I swing around to continue on my path.
