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"She'sfae, what do you expect?" Rolant scoffed. "Hywel, can you shift?"
"Not without bringing the mountain down on top of us," Hywel answered.
"Neither can I. Perhaps your little pet bird—"
"Rolant."
"I'll go," Asterion said, pulling out the axes from the holsters strapped over his back.
"Wait," I gasped, but he had already jumped down into the water, crouching low as the centicore shrieked, a shockingly human cry that made pebbles and dust shake loose from the ceiling of the cavern.
He raised the axes up like a shield and they clashed into the hard, golden bone of the centicore's horns, sparks flashing from the metal. The centicore screamed again and Asterion roared back, pulling one axe free and swinging it low, aiming for the centicore's throat.
My stomach jumped, my hands planting themselves over the spot, and I shook my head, staring at the hilt embedded in the centicore's side.
This was wrong.
"Asterion, stop!" I cried, but he was defending himself now as much as he was fighting the creature.
I lunged toward the water, and all around me, men shouted and hands reached out for me. I dove down, and my breath was ripped from my lungs at the icy shock of the water. It must've been coming from deep within the ground, and for a moment it made my body freeze, the plan in my head shaken loose. Fingers swiped at my ankle and sense returned.
I kicked myself loose and swam, body adjusting to the brutally cold temperature. I tore myself free of the heavy coat I'd been wearing and circled the churning where the centicore stomped its hooves. I resurfaced at its back, and the sounds of my men shouting and Asterion bellowing and the centicore's haunting cries all made me want to retreat back under the water.
Instead, I grabbed onto the soaked fur, braced my leg on the centicore's knee, and climbed onto its bucking back.
"Evanthia!" Asterion shouted, stunned and staring up as the creature screeched and tried to toss me off.
"Hush," I said, my eyes wide and staring back at the five gazes gaping at me. "Hush, it's all right."
I stroked my hands down the neck of the centicore, grunting as it leapt straight up, knocking both our backs against the ceiling of the cavern.
"Get back, Asterion," Laslzo hissed.
The breath was knocked out of me, the room spinning, but I stroked the fur under my hands and squeezed my thighs tight like when I'd been flying on Laszlo.
"Shhhh, shhhhh, settle down now," I murmured.
"Everyone, quiet," Rolant said as Conall and Hywell dragged Asterion up from the water back onto the ledge, their horrified stares settling once more as I caught my breath.
The centicore screamed in protest, leaping up once more, but I was petting the sides of its neck, and it didn't knock me into the stone again.
"Evanthia," Conall breathed.
"Shhhhh," I said to him and to the centicore. "It's all right. You poor thing, hmm."
It kicked its hind legs up, and the chain rattled as it tried to dive forward. I held on and waited, petting it gently, speaking softly.
"Wicked woman to put a sword in you," I whispered, and the large, palm-sized ears in front of me twitched. "That was cruel, yes."
Rolant snorted and then stiffened as the centicore stirred and yelped restlessly.
"Don't mind them. It's all right. I won't hurt you. It's all right now." I sat up slightly, and the centicore stomped but didn't toss me about. Our audience sighed.
Laszlo spoke, his voice low and soothing to match mine. "It's going to put up a fuss when you retrieve the sword."
I nodded, keeping my tone light as I dug my hands into the thick fur, scratching and petting. "I know."
"We can all try and grab it at once, keep it from hurting you, but—"
