Page 37 of The Throne's Undoing

"What did she just say?" Emmett shrieked in disbelief.

A quiet grumble came from the dragon-wolf as it looked at Emmett, its ruby-red eyes narrowing.

"Do not listen to him," Medenia chided, calling the animal's attention back to her. "He is just scared of the unfamiliar. But you're not so different from my dog at home, now are you? I can even see you have the same snout." She grinned.

The creature puffed up its chest and lifted its chin from Medenia's hand. Dumbstruck, Graeson could do nothing but watch the interaction.

Medenia clicked her tongue. "Oh, don't be like that. I think you and Beau would get along swimmingly if you met." She tipped her head closer and chuckled. "As long as you promise not to eat him. But you wouldn't do that, would you, Nyrri?"

The creature scoffed.

"That's what I thought."

"Wait, now she's naming it?" Emmett gasped, clutching his hair.

Medenia scowled at him. "Of course not. She already has a name. Everyone does."

Graeson eyed Medenia curiously as Dani asked, "Wait, are youspeakingto the animal?"

"It is not that hard if you simply listen," Medenia replied, her voice still containing the same melodic lilt she used with the dragon-wolf.

Mouth agape, Dani turned to Ellie as if she would be the one to admit that the princess was on the verge of losing her mind.

Arms crossed, Ellie merely shrugged with a look of indifference. "What? Medenia is particularly in tune with the Goddess Nerva."

"But she's the Goddess of Strength," Dani argued, still skeptical. She looked at Graeson, but even he was at a loss for words.

Ellie sighed. "The gods do more than what some mortals claim. You should know that by now. Take the Goddess Misanthia, for instance. She may be the Goddess of War and Strife, but she is also extremely strategic and gentle when it comes to protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

"Nerva may be the Goddess of Strength in your kingdom, but to us, she is so much more. She is the Goddess of Motherhood and Femininity."

"So...because of this, Medenia can speak to animals?" Dani asked, incredulous.

Ellie rubbed a hand across her face, exasperated. "First off, if you think that your little island is the only kingdom a god has favored and provided withgifts, you are wrong and more ignorant than I first thought. Second, Medenia does not simplyspeakto the animals; sheunderstandsthem. Many people possess this skill, but Medenia is particularly talented."

Medenia patted the top of the dragon-wolf's head and stood, wiping the dirt from her palms. "We should get going. Nyrri believes more soldiers will come soon if we stay too long," she explained.

"You cannot possibly be serious?" Emmett sputtered, eyes wide.

The animal snarled at Emmett, and he raised his hand in response. "See! It's a wild creature, not a pet!" He looked around in a frenzy. "The horses surely will have issues traveling along it."

"Sheis no danger to anyone," Medenia argued with a growl.

"How can you be so sure?" Dani asked.

The princess raised her chin. "She told me."

Dani glanced at Graeson. "Come on. You're telling me that you believe her?"

The gods were more powerful than any of the myths gave them credit for. The god within him was one beast; Pontanius, another. But the rest? The rest were so muchworse. Despite how fondly Ellie spoke of Nerva, most of the high gods were brutal and unyielding. They were not beings that Graeson wished to deal with if he could help it.

Graeson turned to the god within for an answer.

Now you wish for my opinion?the god asked, voice dripping with annoyance.

Does she speak the truth?

The god huffed but did not deny it. If the god did not question Medenia's ability to communicate with the animal, Graeson wouldn't either.

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