Gisela still hadn’t returned.
Why are you looking for her?
If he didn’t know better, he’d think he cared. But that was ridiculous. The only thing that mattered to him was avenging his father. One day, he would find the Oath demon who’d killed him, and when he did…
He’d have a new moniker.
Oathbreaker was far too mild for the havoc he intended to unleash. Deathdealer, maybe…
Or monster. He really liked that one.
“Will this work, my lord?”
Xaydin turned back toward the stable master to see the fine black gelding. It was a beautiful beast. “Perfect. How much do I owe you?”
He handed over the reins. “Nothing. Your father was a good troll and a great king. When I was young, I was conscripted into the army even though my father was ill. As soon as your father found out that I was the only son, he sent me home to be with my parents during my father’s last days. Had I not been here, my mother and younger sister would have been thrown to the streets. It’s a kindness I’ve never forgotten. Consider this my honor to take care of King Benesh’s son now.”
Those words touched him and hurt him. Mostly because his father had been much quicker to defend and protect others than he’d been to protect his own child.
I’m sending you because it wouldn’t be right for me to send another’s son to Meara. How could I ask for that sacrifice from another if I’m not willing to make it myself?
That was the good and bad of his father. Had he kept Xaydin at home, his father would still be alive.
But then Xaydin wouldn’t be the ruthless bastard that he was. Or nearly as accomplished a fighter.
To that, he owed both his father and the centaur bitch who’d carved him into the animal he currently was.
“Thank you.” Xaydin took the reins and headed back toward Masakage who sat on the horse with his hands tucked into his sleeves. It was a strange, arrogant stance, but then his brother was a strange, arrogant being.
“Is that mine?”
He paused to see Gisela behind him.
How had she done that? No one ever snuck up on him. And he definitely didn’t like it.
It was enough to make him want to lash out at her. But he wasn’t that big an ass. He’d just make sure that he watched her in the future. Make sure she didn’t ever do that again.
“It is. Need a hand up?”
She approached the horse slowly. “I’ll be fine, thank you.” Gisela said that, but the horse nickered and stepped away as if it feared her.
“Sh…” She held her hand out to gently stroke its nose. Still, the horse was unsettled.
Xaydin snorted. “Must smell the centaur on you.”
A peculiar light darkened her eyes before she offered him an amused, timid smile. “Horses have never particularly liked me. It’s why I prefer walking.”
Xaydin held his hand out to hover over the horse’s eyes. Using his powers, he soothed the beast. Even so, the horse wasn’t happy. There was something about Gisela that bothered it.
How strange. Stranger still was the fact that his powers picked up nothing from her. She seemed human.
But looks could be deceiving. No one could look at him or Masakage and guess their heritage. Other than his size, no one would ever know that he was part troll or sidhe.
With that thought in mind, he helped her mount, then turned toward his brother.Can you tell what blood flows in her veins?
He shook his head.Why do you ask?
A hunch.
