I let them keep talking it over for a while, preferring them to choose my own language, but I can't add my thoughts without letting them know I can speak Manticorid.
The venom-beast should put some work in. Find some grit that extends beyond science, art, or whatever other soft career he had and learn my language. Far fewer miscommunications that way.
Well, as long as Kira never speaks again.
After a while, I get sick of their looping attempts to balance fairness with expedience and speak.
"I see the 'master race' is still looking down on servitors and not bothering to learn anything about them."
Everyone freezes, and I let out a rumble of satisfaction and humor at how stupid they all look as they gape at me.
The manticorid recovers first. "I do admit I don't speak Drakonid. Otherwise, I know as much as anyone can about your species. You don't reveal much."
"And invite more opportunistic predators to reap the benefits of your genetic tampering?"
His hide twitches at that verbal swipe, but he doesn't extend his claws.
Instead, he keeps talking in that annoyingly calm, sincere voice of his. "I would never think of you as a servitor, Drasuk."
I cough out my disbelief.
He continues speaking, ignoring my temper. "If I may inquire, why did you learn my language?"
The whole species is ridiculously ill-informed, it seems.
"Every Maj'Ra learns it. All of us know that one day you will stop being so obsessed with your Thela-cursed tails that you'll wake up to see the threat surrounding us."
It's immensely satisfying to see his whiskers twitch when I mention their ancient deity. Technically only the master race is allowed to use its name so flippantly, even though they long since stopped believing in it.
I continue, pleased to have made him uncomfortable. "We've known for millennia that we'll have to recombine our people. Or die out completely. That surety infuses every tenet the Maj'Ras are taught."
His whiskers drop down to his chest for a brief moment before lifting again, this time quivering. When he speaks, his voice matches the same excitement.
"We are stirring again, honored Maj'Ra. Abstainers were steadily losing their place in Session when I was taken."
I have never heard sweeter words, but I'm still unimpressed with every stupid one of the venom-dolts. "We will never accept a lesser role than an equal ally."
"I would stripe the hide of any fool who suggested otherwise."
A grunt escapes before I can contain it. I might decide to like this one.
Possibly.
"You two are fucking adorable," Kira breaks in.
When I look at her she has her tiny hands folded along her cheek, her head cocked to the side, and her eyes widened. Something tells me it's an insult.
A glance over to Ree, who's covering her face as her body twitches in apparent mirth, and it's confirmed.
Suddenly Kira throws out her arms to the side like something has shocked her.
I dart my eyes around, pulling in long breaths and listening for whatever threat she identified.
Nothing presents itself.
"Wait. Hold on, now, my people."
Even in Manticorid she sounds like she's trying to confuse everyone around her. I let out a grunt and stop scanning for nonexistent threats.
