Page 99 of Shifter King
"I am familiar with the legends."
He dipped his head forward. "Well, as your Greatness has almost assuredly gathered a great stable of wondrous beasts for your conquests, I am certain it is not the first or even the best. But it is always an honor when one of these creatures announces its bond as vividly as the display a gryphon creates from within the egg. A true sign of worthiness if ever there was one. I am just a simple girl, but I have a good sense with animals like this. It is quite delicate as I am sure you can see. It cannot take much contact, or else it will be overwhelmed. Oh. Listen to me prattling on. I am simply so excited."
He pressed his palm to the base of the egg and then bowed as he lowered it to the carpeted step. The tiny invisible tentacle attached. Damn little tentacle stung with that poison still trying to gnaw away at his insides. Between this and the levies it was no wonder the Vawtrians here were so small and weak.
Zorna at last picked up the egg. As soon as both hands touched it, he released the small color-changing charge of energy. It flashed over the egg in a brilliant display of gold, black, and white that then rippled iridescent before returning to the layered gold texture.
WroOth put his hand over his mouth, gasping. "I've never seen anything like that. It's even better than I heard it would be. Perhaps the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life. From now on, whenever I find a gryphon egg, I must bring it to you."
Zorna restrained a pleased smile as she placed the egg on the tray at her table. "This gift is sufficient." She pointed to the man nearest the dais. "You. Take it to the eyrie. See to it that no one goes near it until it hatches. Use gloves when you move it." She then snapped her fingers twice and pointed toward the door. The robed figures stood, turned, and left in single file.
Promising.
Zorna waited until it was only them and the servants. Her gaze moved between Amelia and WroOth before settling at last on him. "I am certain you have questions."
"About?" WroOth feigned innocence. "May I—may we stand, your Majesty?"
She gestured with her hand.
Stepping over to Amelia, WroOth helped her up, taking care not to brush her obviously horrifically broken arm. Had these monsters been beating her with a hammer? What even was this? He forced a smile as he fussed over her. "I must apologize for my sister's appearance and her clumsiness. I hope you do not hold it against her, though obviously you don't since you are willing to let her having this gorgeous wedding." He clicked his tongue at Amelia. "Did you fall, dear heart? I know you must be so embarrassed. You look as if you struck your head. You'll have to show me the stairs where it happened."
"Yes." Zorna signaled to someone in the back, then gave a tight smile. "Your sister is very clumsy, but she has made her apologies. She understands what she is to do. She understands how she is to behave."
WroOth chuckled. "That is so good to hear. I love my sister dearly, but she can be a touch difficult at times."
"True. But we can handle anything here. There is a reason we are the best. Not even the Abliatos can contend with us. We've even stolen some of the Abliato weapons that won't leave a signature or trace." She snapped her fingers.
One of the attendants stepped forward with a tray. On it lay a laser-pistol.
Oh. Please. This was—this was insulting.
"There," Zorna said with a gentle smile. Her dark eyes glinted. "Take it. Examine it. Tell me what you think. They say it is easy to use. Just point and pull. Very simple indeed."
"Oh I'm certain that it is. But I'm just a simple girl. I don't like weapons or fighting or blood. You wouldn't believe how sick it makes me." He picked the laser-pistol up and turned it around. Obviously there was some sort of catch. Either she had a shield up or this would malfunction if he pulled the trigger. It might not have any charge at all. No particular energy pulse emanated from it, and—ah, painted with luminous gel and covered in glass. They really did have an exceptionally low opinion of his people. "From what little I know, this does look as if it has been well kept."
"Yes. Fully charged." Zorna directed her attention to one of the attendants near the door and gestured for them to come close. She then made quite a show of turning her focus away.
Definitely insulting. But easy enough. And best to get it away from Amelia. No matter how useless guns had proved in the past, she seemed to like them. Though at the moment, she seemed more intent upon staring at him. Which was fine really.
He turned to one of the attendants who held a large elegantly carved and red-tipped spear. "Here. Would you like to hold it now? I think I'm done."
The man shook his head, his brow furrowing. The masked headdress on the top of his head rustled with the movement.
"All right then." WroOth set it clumsily back on the tray, clasping his hands behind his back as soon as he was in front of the stairs. "Rather heavy, isn't it? This is why I don't bother with weapons."
Zorna's eyebrow lifted as she returned to studying him. "One might wonder how it is you survived in the wilderness."
"You've seen my brothers. Is that really a question?" He laughed and fluttered the fan. "They are exceptionally protective. Somewhat brutish. Certainly uncivilized. Not at all charming. But what can be done for that? When my brother found the Neyeb, I thought oh it's so wonderful. Finally, someone like me. But she is not. Not at all. I hope you will not think ill of her though. But she did marry my brother, and she has had to put up with him for far too long."
"Hmmmhmmm." Her eyes narrowed. "Are you here because you want to protect your sister or because you wanted to get away from your brothers?"
He laughed again, feigning embarrassment. "Would you fault me if it was both, your Majesty?"
"I suspect one more than the other."
"Obviously, it's to protect my sister."
"You aren't particularly good at lying, are you?"
