AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There was no seething bloodlust beneath the surface, barely controlled. There was no indiscriminate lechery or burgeoning tendency toward debauchery. In fact, as Chiron grudgingly admitted last night at the gathering, every one of the centaur warriors were untried stallions. They’d never had a female to call their own.
They’d never had a female at all.
“So, what is Ixion like?” Divina was asking of Chiron, now that she’d finished getting to know each and every soldier within the centaur troop.
The troop leader walked beside them, the clip-clops of his hooves slightly faster in beat than Andros’, given his shorter strides.
“Mean,” the male replied shortly with a scowl.
“Is he as big as Andros?” she asked.
“Just.”
She made a noise that was half exasperation, half amusement.
“Sir Chiron, it would be helpful if you expounded on your answers. I’m trying to get a sense of our opponent here. What is the best way to challenge and defeat him when we return with the maidens to the centaur stronghold? I assume we will have surprise on our side. He’s not expecting the rest of us, especially Andros, right?”
Chiron assessed Andros with an unreadable gaze.
At least there was no hostility in it. No cunning or deceit. Merely a weighing of his strengths and weaknesses, Andros sensed.
“A direct challenge will be best,” he replied slowly, considering.
“The advantage of being unexpected will be ours. But Ixion is ruthless. He will find some other upper hand. He will cheat to win, though he is a skilled fighter, And yes, equal to you in size, son of Apollo.”
Andros felt a subtle tension in Divina’s body against his back.
“Have you ever challenged him, Sir Chiron?”
The warrior’s scowl deepened.
“I would not be alive if I had.”
“But you’ve thought about it.”
A long pause.
“Aye.”
“And you think you might be able to win.”
Andros was impressed with Divina’s ability to intuit others, her insight and her gift of getting people to open up. Chiron was a locked fortress as far as Andros could tell, and yet, Divina patiently and persistently chipped away at his armor, understanding as much from what he didn’t say as what he said.
“It would be an even match,” Chiron answered reluctantly, as if every word was being pulled like teeth out of his mouth.
“He is larger and stronger, but I am more skilled and experienced.”
“And you have fought wars for him. You are the leader of his best warriors, after all,” Divina continued to prod.
Finally, Chiron asked with a glare, “What is your point, woman?”
Andros side stepped and snorted to show his displeasure at the other male’s rudeness to his female.
Immediately, Chiron glanced away and backed up a step, bowing his head at his alpha’s admonishment.
Divina patted Andros’ shoulder to indicate that she didn’t take offense. Everything was fine.
She explained patiently, “You seem like a brave, strong warrior, Sir Chiron. You seem to disdain Ixion’s rule. You can easily challenge him and perhaps even win. I was merely curious why you have not, in all this time.”
