Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
Oh, right. Because the enemies of Honori Hold will execute us to steal our lands. Can’t forget that.
And now I’ve got to deal with a pouty bull-man who tried to lecture me when I wanted nothing more than to sleep.
“Have you seen a Taurian cock? With the sacred knot engorged?”
Oh my, the word engorged just makes me all kinds of flustered. “I…well, no.”
“Then save some energy for tonight, because you’re going to see one.” Hawk leans in. “You need a lesson because I don’t plan on being the villain in this. It was your idea to marry.”
“So it was.” I can handle a cock showing. Truth be told, I find the entire idea a little fascinating. “But if you want me to stay awake, you’ll have to stop lecturing me and actually let me catch my breath today.” Already the backpack straps are burning two strips of pain on my shoulders.
“This is for your own good,” he reiterates, and casts a stern look in my direction. “Don’t think you can get away with anything simply because we’re married.”
I gasp in outrage. “I wouldn’t! And I’m offended you think I would use our connection like that.”
“Wouldn’t you?”
“No!” I sputter. “You’re the one who brought up your cock, not me.”
He arches a brow at me. “Don’t pretend like it’s never crossed your mind to milk your advantage here by milking my cock.”
I sputter again. “Rude!”
He snorts.
“Let it be said that I wish to learn everything there is to be taught here,” I tell him indignantly. “I didn’t come here to be coddled. I came here to be part of the guild. Anything extracurricular is going to have to wait until I’m rested so I can be a beneficial part of the team, and that means bed sport.”
My teacher grunts. Is Hawk relenting? Have I convinced him that carrying rocks isn’t the way to teach us? “We still need to train with Magpie, too.”
I have to admit, I am more than eager to meet her. I want to hear all her stories. I want to learn what she knows. I want to absorb everything there is she can teach.
“Soon.” Hawk’s voice is terse. He jogs ahead, agile on those enormous hooves, and moves to Kipp’s side. “I thought we talked about the house?”
The slitherskin ignores him.
* * *
Up and down we go, marching all over Vastwarren’s streets until I’m heartily sick of backpacks and guilds and, most of all, Taurians. Sweat drips down my face, and I’m relieved when Hawk calls for lunch and a rest break. We eat and drink water while sitting on the curb of a busy lane, watching donkeys pull carts up to the apex of the city, where the ruins are walled off.
“When do we get to go up there?” I call out. “To the tunnels?”
“You’re not ready yet.”
Humph. Of course he thinks that. “Yes, but when will we be ready?”
Hawk crosses his arms over his chest. “How long do you plan on keeping your arse on the curb and resting, fledgling?”
Grumbling, I get to my feet.
We march for a little longer, until we’ve circled the upper quadrant of the city again and returned to Magpie’s home. At Hawk’s instruction, we deposit our packs by the door for tomorrow’s drills, and then head inside after him. To my surprise, we enter an empty, narrow chamber. If I put my arms out on each side, I’ll be able to touch both walls at the same time. At the far end of the room is a weapons rack.
“If you’re not wanting to build your endurance, we’ll have to work on your combat skills,” Hawk tells us. “Each excavation team sent into the tunnels consists of five people, and each person on the team has a particular job assigned to them. Someone will be the navigator, ensuring you don’t turn in endless circles. Someone will be the healer, in charge of keeping the party healthy. Each team will have a gearmaster in charge of supplies. A good gearmaster won’t let you run out of food three days in. And then we have our combat members, our sword and shield. The shield—or bulwark—will protect the other members of the party while the sword takes point on combat. Even if you’re not the assigned sword for your group, you’ll be expected to handle yourself with your weapon of choice. Sometimes the sword gets killed early on and someone else has to take over the role. Understand?”
Mereden raises her hand, trembling.
“Speak,” Hawk says.
“Do we have to fight ratlings? Or will they leave us alone?”
“Not just ratlings are in the Everbelow,” Hawk says, voice ominous.
“What else?” Lark asks.
“Spiders, for one,” Hawk says. “Big, nasty beasts with too many legs that come out of nowhere and crawl over your shoulder. Monstrous things.”
“How monstrous are we talking?” asks Gwenna, a frown etching her face.