Page 23 of Of Monsters Of Kings

“Who are Willboughy and Hasbin?”

“Why,” I said, startled, “Sand Cat and Ox.”

Another chuckle. Was he teasing me?

“They aren’t with me. We find ourselves in disagreement in the wake of… Kingsie’s blindness.”

I hummed. “I’m sorry for this. You believed that coming to check on me was right?”

“Yes. You are well?”

“I have said so.”

“It’s just that I have seen many burials, and this is not at the regular end of that spectrum.”

I glanced to the shadows where he continued to hide. “Where abouts am I on the spectrum, then?”

“About the middle.”

Not so bad. “You know, I don’t speak to many people in shadows. You… might?”

“I would say that’s correct. Yes, that’s correct. Some conversations are better from the shadows.”

I could see his point. I felt as if I were confiding in a friend or writing in a diary. “I worry that you’ve taken my calling you Stag as a reason to hide away. I only had the thought that your power was graceful, no more.”

“I took no offense. A stag is a wondrous thing.”

“You’ve seen one?”

He chuckled, then told me of the herds of stags allowed to roam free in another walled city far across the globe.

“Goodness,” I said after. “I’ve never been to another walled city.”

“All pulses are much the same.”

Pulse. He referred to the cities, I thought. “Our pulse does not have vast herds of stag, though. That would be a sight to see.”

“It has stayed with me. And will you be okay here, do you suppose?”

I didn’t mind supposing. “It shall suffice, Iz.”

“Is,” he replied.

I shot a glance to the shadows.

“You’re saying my name like there’s a ‘Z’ on the end. I’m called Is.”

“I apologize. Your name short for something? Isaac, perhaps?”

“No, just Is.”

Is. “My, and now I worry that I’ve misheard other names. Is that why you chuckled?”

“I confess, lady, you’ve a delightful way of pronouncing them, so I didn’t wish to say anything.” He moved in the shadows.

Bother. “Have I messed up Willboughy and Hasbin’s names?” I brushed at the dirt on my arm. Was it the night or the dirt making my skin itch? I needed to wash.

“You’re close, but their names are two words.”

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