The Priestess and the Thief Kindred Tales 30 - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,52
and angry at the same time.
“What did I tell you?” Roke’s deep voice was shaky and furious as he looked up at her at last. “Didn’t I say that thing was fucking dangerous? But did you listen? No!” He stood and dusted himself off, glaring at her the whole time. “I mean, are you fucking trying to get yourself killed? Why in the Seven Hells did you rush in there like that?”
“They were hurting him!” Elli flared. “And besides, I didn’t know that they would make him so angry they’d send him into a Fury!”
“What does that mean? You keep saying that—in a Fury—what is that?” Roke demanded.
“It’s similar to when a Kindred warrior goes into Rage,” Elli tried to explain. “It’s sort of a temporary loss of sanity—the anger just takes over and there’s nothing you can do until it passes. As soon as he calms down, I can try again.”
“Try again? After what we just saw?” Roke demanded incredulously. “That beast just fucking killed a man and you want to try again?”
“Of course I do,” Elli said tartly. “As soon as he’s calmed down. I just need to get close enough to catch his eye so if I approach him slowly…”
“Like hell, you will,” Roke growled. “We’re getting the Seven Hells out of here while you’re still in one piece! If I have to, I’ll throw you over my shoulder and drag you back to my ship!”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Elli snapped, glaring up at him.
“You just watch me, little priestess! In fact, you’re coming with me right now!”
Roke made a lunge for her but Elli evaded him. She was about to dash to the other side of the training ring when a fruity, familiar voice remarked,
“Well, a rather disappointing show, I must say, I’m afraid.”
Whirling around, Elli saw the Crown Prince strolling towards them. He was using a golden walking stick that looked expensive enough to buy Elli’s entire village back home and his golden velvet frock coat glimmered in the weak sunshine.
“Your Majesty!” she gasped, keeping one eye on the Prince and one on Roke, who had straightened up but still looked ready to grab her and run.
“Most disappointing,” the Crown Prince repeated, scowling. “Tell me, my dear, did you simply exaggerate your skill with zorels or was everything you said to me an outright lie?”
“I didn’t lie or exaggerate!” Elli lifted her chin high. “But your grooms drove Demon into a Fury! That was why he flamed up and killed the man who was shocking him. But I can still tame him, once he calms a bit.”
“That man was our best groom,” the Crown Prince said dryly. “He was also—according to the other servants working in the stable—Demon’s ‘favorite’. Now tell me, my dear, how do you expect to do anything with the beast when he’s willing to kill his favorite groom?”
“His Majesty has a point,” Roke growled.
Elli wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. She knew how things looked to the untrained eye—a murderous, savage zorel who was completely out of control and a little slip of a girl who was claiming she could train him despite his violent actions. But the very fact that Demon had gone into a Fury proved to her that he was like the other zorels she had worked with on her father’s ranch. She could train him if only they would give her a chance!
“Look, Your Majesty,” she said, speaking directly to the Crown Prince and ignoring Roke who was glowering behind her. “I know how bad this looks, but zorels are like people—they have their limits. And unfortunately, your grooms pushed Demon past his. As soon as he calms down and the Fury passes, he’ll feel sorry for what he’s done and be easier to reason with.”
The Crown Prince snorted.
“Easier to reason with? You can’t reason with a beast like that! The only thing you can do with such a creature is break him to your will—and I am seriously beginning to doubt that you can do that, my dear Lady Ellilah.”
“You haven’t really given me a chance yet, Your Majesty,” Elli protested. “If I can just look Demon in the eye, I can communicate with him. I know I can!”
“I don’t think—” the Crown Prince began but his words were interrupted by a high, mournful keening coming from the training ring.
Looking over, Elli saw that Demon was nosing at the burned remains of the dead groom, who lay in a twisted heap at the far end of