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Right. This guy is basically royalty out here. This wasn’t like dealing with the same old Sea Sand Gahns I’d gotten used to for months, and it wasn’t the same as Gahn Errok whom I now felt completely comfortable insulting. This was a whole new political entity to deal with.
Following Valeria’s lead, I did a small bow, too. Tilly and Taylor followed suit, and Fiona did a weirdly awkward curtsy. The only human who didn’t make a show of respect was Nasrin, who regarded the Gahn coolly. If he noticed her lack of special greeting, he didn’t remark on it.
“I will not raise my tail to him,” came a hissing voice from our group.
I turned to find Dalk scowling fiercely at Gahn Thaleo.
That’s right. Dalk, Vaxilkai, Oxriel, and Bariok had all been held captive by Gahn Thaleo for a few days.
“Good,” came Gahn Thaleo’s reply. “I am not interested in false displays of respect. Give me something real, or give me nothing.”
“Oh, I can give you something real,” Dalk muttered, reaching for a blade. But Tok’s huge, golden hand clamped down on his wrist, stopping him.
“Enough, Dalk,” snapped Valeria. “We’re allies now. Yes, you guys were held captive here. But Gahn Thaleo also made sure your wounds were healed and that you were taken care of, correct?”
Dalk ripped his hand out of Tok’s grip, his expression murderous. When he didn’t reply, Bariok did.
“Yes. That is true.”
“Don’t make me regret bringing you out here,” Valeria said, fixing Dalk with a hard stare. Grim loomed beside her, a silent reminder that every word she uttered would be backed up with his own claws.
Dalk grunted and appeared to calm down slightly. Valeria watched him menacingly for another long moment before she turned to Gahn Thaleo once more.
“Sorry about that. It’s been a long day,” she muttered.
Gahn Thaleo’s tail twitched to acknowledge her words. Even that gesture was perfectly restrained. Usually, the movement was a lot more obvious.
“This is why I have come,” he said. “To greet your party and to invite you to recuperate for the night in my mountain. Take your evening meal with us,” he said. His eyes flicked to Fiona for a moment, his next words echoing her sad moan from a few minutes ago. “And make use of the hot springs.”
“I don’t know,” Valeria said, chewing her lip. “We have a lot to do here.”
“It’s not all going to get done in one night, is it? Wouldn’t it be better to have some hot food and a soak and a decent kip and then get started when it’s light out?” Fiona cried. She lurched forward and grabbed onto Valeria’s arm. “Please, oh fearless leader. I beg you.”
I snorted, shaking my head at my friend’s dramatic begging. But honestly, her arguments made sense. We weren’t going to get much done tonight, anyway. We were already tired and hungry and cold. Plus, we’d need to get to know our allies better and explore their territory, anyway.
There was another reason I wanted to go, too.
That reason being that Gahn Errok would probably be super pissed off. If he didn’t want me riding any other mount than his out here, something told me that going to another Gahn’s mountain was ten times worse.
Well, good. He doesn’t control me.
“I vote we go,” I said firmly, decision made.
“Me too,” Tilly and Taylor replied in unison.
Valeria cast a questioning look at Nasrin, who shrugged.
“Fine by me,” she said.
“Alright, then,” Valeria said. “We’ll go. With a few conditions.”
Fiona groaned, but Valeria held up a hand to get her to stop.
“Name them,” Gahn Thaleo said.
“We’ll take our ship and bring our weapons,” Valeria said. “I don’t want us relying solely on your men and your...”
“Braxilk,” I whispered to her.
