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“Rare and feared.”
“Feared?” Divina and Ere both echoed with incomprehension.
Sorin stepped closer to them instinctively, ready to face down any threat.
“All horses here are descended from the centaurs that live in the Pelion Mountains to the east. They are untamed and fierce in temper. The ones we’ve managed to make docile are the mares and the castrated males.”
Divina made a wounded sound at that, bristling with anger at the human cruelty. Chewie growled menacingly at her feet, sensing her discomfiture.
The merchant glanced at her, then the furry monster beside her, uncertainly.
“Go on,” Ere urged.
Swallowing audibly, the man continued, “Every year, the Archippos round up horses from the wild herds that travel across the southern gulf. They tame the ones they capture before presenting them to the ruling families. No one else can possibly afford the beasts. They cost several bags of gold each.”
“But that does not explain the fear you mentioned,” Ere said.
“We do not fear the animals once they have been tamed,” the man clarified. “But the wild ones have been known to trample people when they are incensed. They are the spawn of the centaurs, after all.”
“Disgusting beasts,” the merchant added vehemently.
Divina silently disagreed.
She thought all animals were lovely in their own unique ways. Even though she’d never met a centaur in the flesh, she could only imagine that they were magnificent creatures, to combine the strength and wildness of a horse with the intelligence and boldness of a man.
But the merchant had worked himself into a bit of a lather, and Divina hated to leave him angry.
She reached out and touched his shoulder, startling him into focusing all of his attention on her once more.
“You have been a great help, dear man,” she murmured softly. “These oils smell heavenly. I can’t wait to put them to use.”
He blinked a few times, and the anger in his face dissipated entirely.
“Neat trick,” she thought she heard Ere mutter beneath his breath.
“Take these also,” the merchant said, adding three thick, folded cloths to Divina’s purchase. “For the baths, yes?”
Divina smiled wide and batted her lashes in gratitude.
“You are such a darling,” she cooed as the merchant colored with pleasure. “Thank you for the consideration.”
To Ere and Sorin she said, “Come along, boys. We’re off to the bath halls!”
~ * ~* ~ *~ * ~* ~ *~ * ~
He had to escape today.
Or die trying.
One way or another, he would endure this hell of captivity no longer.
Andros stood on shaking legs, barely able to remain upright. But he couldn’t afford to lie down and rest. The humans watched him always. Looking for any sign of weakness so that they could beat his spirit into submission.
Enslave him like those other mindless four-legged beasts of burden. Hitch him to a chariot or make him bear a rider to gallop into war or to race for money.
They’d already starved him, whipped him, chained him in a box so that he could barely move. They’d talked of castrating him to make him more pliable. But, thank the gods, they hadn’t yet carried out this threat.
They wanted his seed for breeding.
