His heart fluttered."You claimed the title."
"Was I wrong to?"
No.
She waited for his answer, her beautiful, golden eyes set fire to his soul.When he didn't say anything, she dropped the conversation.
"I will need to try and make the little snake small again, it bothers me it's so big, I can't take it anywhere without causing a fuss."She sighed."I had to hide it in the Udamili, but I don't want to leave it alone in Tarsyn."
"Little snake?"He asked, raising a brow."Doesn't it have a name?"
She looked away, ears reddening."I'm not the best at naming things."
Perhaps, it would be better if he were the one to name their children.Well, if he could get that far before she killed him.
"Should I name it?"
"Go ahead."
A child was named for what the parents hoped they would become.A warrior earned their name through deeds.A creature like this—
"Dulguun," Ragnar said.
Brave, courageous, expansive, serene.
The serpent's head tilted up lazily.Its tongue flickered.
"Dul doesn't mind the name."Azul said, amused."They said they wouldn't trust me to name them either."Her eyes sparkled as she talked, as though she were experiencing great happiness.One Ragnar was here to witness."You should rest," she said."You're still recovering from the fever."
"I'm fine."
"You were in a box for a day."
"I've had worse accommodations.Notably, your room."
She clicked her tongue, marvelled he still held a grudge for her crude actions."Ragnar."
The way she said his name left him with no defences.
He conceded, and laid down, his head finding her lap, his body settling against the cushions on her ledge.Her fingers found his hair.He closed his eyes.
"The city will need managing," she said, above him.Her voice was quiet."Borji will struggle, but in three months I will be ready to leave."
"You can worry about that tomorrow," he murmured."You can stay here as long as you need."
"Aren't you afraid I won't return to the steppes with you?"
He shifted to look up at her."I am afraid, but, what can I do?I am at your mercy."
"I will go with you, as promised.You will not return to your people alone."
He turned, face into her belly, and though he said nothing else, she knew he had taken her words to heart.
"I'm sorry about your sister, Khatun."He whispered.
Azul merely smiled, though it did not reach her eyes.
"I should've known."Was all she said.If she were Chukwuemeka, perhaps she too would use a dead girl's name as leverage.
