Page 41 of Shadows of Winter

“Yes. And books.”

“I doubt he came for your romance novels.”

“I wouldn’t think an animal with fangs would want honey either. And they’re romantic adventures, not romances. There’s swashbuckling. And pirates.”

“Yes, the literary value is immense.”

Kaylina shot him the dirty look that comment deserved while the taybarri continued to prod, trying to figure out how to open the flap. “It’s got to be the honey. You think he’s like the bears that swim across the strait to raid Grandpa’s beehives?”

“Probably. A lot of animals like honey, fangs or not. High-calorie foods are rare in nature, so they’re a prize.”

“Ranks higher than humans and vegetables, huh?” Kaylina risked creeping to the backpack, whispering that she would get some honey out for the taybarri. As if he understood, Crenoch stepped back and waited.

“You don’t need me to tell you that,” Frayvar said. “I’ve seen you feed your bok choy to the hounds while making lover eyes at Grandma’s honey cakes.”

“I tried to feed the bok choy to the hounds. They’re not as keen on vegetables as you’d hope.”

“Tell me about it. My attempts to get them to eat water spinach never went well.”

Since they needed all the honey they had for their mead, Kaylina only withdrew a small piece of comb. She held it out to Crenoch, expecting him to sniff it, but he must have already determined he wanted it, because he didn’t hesitate. Only when the big tongue came out—even larger than a horse’s—with those teeth drawing near her hand did she realize she should have tossed it onto the ground at his feet.

Before she could pull back, the tongue swept across her palm, warm and moist and rough. It removed the honeycomb while leaving enough slobber to make her skin glisten.

She grimaced and wiped her palm while Crenoch smacked his blue lips and ran his tongue over his teeth, not wanting to miss an iota of the honey. He stepped closer and licked her hand again. His brown eyes considered her pack, and she had little doubt he could smell that there was more inside.

“I need the rest for my mead.” Kaylina risked stepping forward and patting him on the neck. “You’re a good taybarri and must want me to become a successful mead maker here in town, right? It’s what your boss wants.” Or what his boss wanted, anyway.

Crenoch's whuff sounded indifferent to his rider’s wishes, but he didn’t go for the pack again. Instead, he startled her by licking her on the cheek, leaving it as moist as her hand.

“Uhm, thank you.”

His tail swished across the ground again.

“Grandma’s honey-lavender lemon tarts are even better than her honey cakes.” Frayvar didn’t comment on the slobber—maybe he was too busy daydreaming about the food at the Spitting Gull to have noticed. “Is it too soon to feel homesick?”

“No.” Kaylina was about to admit that she’d had such feelings—along with more doubts and regrets than she could name—when Frayvar jumped.

Vlerion strode through the gate in his ranger blacks, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword.

“There you are.” Disapproval laced his stern voice.

Kaylina skittered back, dropping her hand, though she didn’t know if the words were for her or the taybarri.

Crenoch swished his tail, looked over his shoulder at his rider, and lolled his tongue out. A laugh? Defiance? Whatever the gesture meant, it had to indicate a lack of concern.

Eyes narrow, Vlerion strode across the courtyard. He barely glanced at Frayvar, who scurried out of his way, before focusing on Crenoch. The taybarri licked his lips again.

Vlerion turned on Kaylina. “You fed him?”

“Not… exactly.” She surreptitiously wiped her hand on her trousers again.

“What exactly did you do?”

Though she felt guilty, since she had given the taybarri the honey, Kaylina didn’t appreciate his tone. She folded her arms over her chest. “Listen, pirate. He came here of his own accord and got my pack out of the kitchen. Also on his own.”

Mostly on his own.

“Do not call me that.” More irritation infused Vlerion’s voice than he’d previously shown. The dangerous glint in his eyes that she’d caught a few times appeared.

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