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CHAPTER 10
It had been a longday and I suspected it would be a long evening.
When I entered my room, Breena was already there, scurrying about busily.
“Where have you been? You’re late! We must get you ready at once.” Then her eyes widened. “Oh, by Blessed Vela, what have they done to you?”
I glanced down at myself. I supposed I was more bruised and battered than when I had left. Lyrastra’s attack on my legs had left me leaning more heavily on my right side, almost limping. I inhaled, taking what I hoped was a subtle whiff and my nostrils flickered.
Distinctly exmoor-ish.
It wasn’t an unpleasant smell. An animal, earthy tone. I rather liked it.
But I could see Breena’s lips curling from here. “Good Khor, have you been in the stables all day? Did a horse tread on you? What did they have you doing? Mucking out stalls?”
“Something like that,” I said cautiously. “I was at Steelhaven earlier.”
“Steelhaven!” Breena looked furious. “I suppose this washisdoing.”
“It was mine. I wanted a trainer. I’m used to having physical training.” I cleared my throat. “Odessa claims to be the best.”
“That Odessa di Rhondan and that brother of hers,” Breena grumbled. “Supposed to be keeping you safe, the two of them, and yet you come back here looking like you’ve been trampled by beasts.”
Thankfully there had been no trampling. Only a great deal of curious stares from Siabra nobles and servants as Crescent and I had led Nightclaw through the palace halls until we finally reached the Shadow Gardens.
Located on the fringes of the palace, the gardens lay within a huge stone quadrangle. An arched arcade wall provided a high border, encompassing a secluded space more wild than park-like with dense foliage, rough dirt paths, and hidden clearings.
“This should be enough room for him,” Crescent said quietly as we entered. “At least, for now.”
“For now,” I echoed. Then I glanced at him. “For now?”
“You do plan to train him, don’t you?”
“Well, I hope so.” In truth, I had absolutely no idea what such training would involve. “All I knew was that I had to get him out of that place.”
Crescent nodded. “This is a good start.”
“How will he feed? I assume he’s used to having meals brought to him.” I glanced with chagrin at Nightclaw, as if worried I might offend him. “And not hunting.”
Not like Sunstrike, the female exmoor Draven had brought back.
“I’ll arrange all of that. But later, perhaps he might like to try to hunt for himself. We could see about bringing him to the surface, perhaps taking him out to the royal hunting park if the prince agrees. You might even be able to keep him there.”
I looked at Nightclaw who was observing us both as we spoke rather than racing off into the gardens.
“It’s almost as if he can understand us, isn’t it?” I said softly. “His eyes are so intelligent.”
Crescent nodded. “No wonder the prince brought back the female. Such nobility and strength.”
“He’s surprisingly...” I searched for the right word.
“Compliant?” Crescent grimaced. “I suspect that’s because of Rodrick. But underneath, you see what I see, don’t you?”
