Page 16 of By the Horns
I grin at her, leaning in and ignoring the scowl Kipp sends my way. “I couldn’t help but overhear the two of you.”
“Of course you couldn’t,” she replies, her voice tart. “You’re standing practically on my arse.”
Is Hawk paying attention to this? When I glance over to catch his eye, he’s gone, though. He cuts through the row of statues to go and talk to a particularly sweaty and nervous-looking younger man.
“But it’s a very nice arse,” I offer, turning back to the woman. When she snorts, dismissing me, I try another tactic. “You’re here for recruitment day, aren’t you?”
Her eyes widen, just a fraction, as if she’s surprised by my words. Why do they surprise her, I wonder? The woman’s gaze flicks back to the nearness of my chest as if she’s debating my too-comfortable approach. Then, with a delicate pinch of her fingers, she plucks my hand off her shoulder and slithers out of my grasp. “I’m not telling you anything. What with you having no manners and all.”
Clutching at my chest, I pretend to stagger. “I’m wounded, lady. Truly wounded. Here I thought I’d spotted two kindred souls.” I flick my black repeater sash. “Given that we’re all in the same situation.”
Her gaze flicks to the guild sash that marks me as a repeater, and then she glances down at Kipp. His mouth is flat and he licks his eyelid, which could mean anything. But she looks over at me again and lifts her chin in that pert way of hers. “Kipp says you’re a rude shit.”
“He said all that, eh?” I cross my arms over my chest in the classic Taurian intimidation move, enjoying myself immensely. I love it when a woman isn’t afraid of my size. “What else did he say?”
“I can’t presume to speak for him,” she continues in that no-nonsense sassy voice, and for a moment she sounds just as bold as Sarya. “But I imagine he’d tell you to muck off so we can get on with our business.”
“You’re looking for a teacher, aren’t you? So am I.” I twirl a finger, indicating the three of us. “Thought we might stay together, seeing as how we three stick out a bit with this crowd.”
“Oh.” Again, she seems surprised, and her cheeks flush with color. “You want to team up?”
I shrug, feigning casualness. If I’m being honest with myself, she’s a lot of fun to tease, and I’m curious about the little slitherskin. Both of them bear watching, and Rooster did tell me to find repeaters who could likely be thieves. A former maid could have a plethora of reasons as to why she’d take to stealing from the guild. Slitherskins tend to be secretive, and they can get anywhere. It’s worth cozying up to them. “Figured that I can probably get onto any team I want, if I’m being honest. Repeater or no, everyone wants a Taurian on their team.”
“Then you don’t need us.” That pointy little chin of hers goes up.
Is everything she says a challenge? Why do I love that so? “Thought it might be nice to be with some others who don’t fit the mold. Hard to blend with all the merchants’ sons and farm boys when you don’t have anything in common. Know what I mean?”
Her gaze flicks to my muzzle, and her jaw clamps. She looks as if she’s about to protest—or give me a tongue-lashing.
Kipp taps on her leg, which is probably the slitherskin version of a throat clearing. She eyes him and takes a step back. “We need to talk in private for a moment.”
“You’re leaving?” I tease, gesturing at the crowded hall we stand in. “You’ll lose your place in line.”
“Just give us a moment,” she all but barks at me, and I can’t help but grin. I don’t know how I’m managing to get under her skin so easily, but by the gods, it’s entertaining. With a huffy little look at me, she turns to Kipp and he moves deeper into the room. I’m impressed when she drops into a squat to talk on level with the much smaller slitherskin, treating him like an equal. Few would do such a thing.
I also notice that several of the men in the room are checking out the tight fit of her trousers across her very plump arse. It’s a nice one, forsure. Reminds me of Sarya…which makes a stab of bitterness shoot through me. Am I so terrible to be around that she’s made it a point to avoid me? That’s the only reason I can think of that I can’t find the woman in any brothel in all of Vastwarren.
The human woman and the slitherskin put their heads together. She’s doing all the talking, and the lizard seems to communicate entirely with hand gestures and facial expressions. After a while, she nods and gets to her feet again, straightening. Her gaze meets mine.
I give her a languid smile, toying with my repeater sash.
She marches the short distance to stand in front of me again. “Tell me your name,” she demands. “And why you’re a repeater.”
Hmm. It’s not a question I’d thought to answer, actually. More fool me. I thought for certain that any master with a lick of sense would take one look at my tall, muscular form and jump to have me. Explaining myself never came into the picture. I stroke my chin, pretending to consider her words. “I’ll give you my name—it’s Raptor.”
“I know who you are. What’s your real name?” she says irritably. “You can’t take a bird name until you’ve passed.”
Some of my amusement dims. “I’m not changing names. I’ve been Raptor for a decade. They’re going to let me keep it.”
“Oh, are you so certain, then?”
“I am, aye.” And I’m going to make sure everyone mucking knows that my name is not up for grabs. “And if anyone asks, I’ll tell them that I’m Raptor, and that it’s bad luck to say my old name.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
That’s because I’ve just decided it. “It’s a Taurian belief.”
Her eyes narrow at me. “Just give me your name.”
