If anyone can, it’s him.Matt shifted on the hard wooden seat. He craps capability.
Craps?I raised a brow at him. The effect was somewhat ruined by the water dripping off my hood into my eye.
He reached to tug the clothing forward, sending drops flying.I went for the polite version.
How unusual,Talakai rumbled. Like his real self, he was a mindspeaking Dragon of few words.
I sensed him sheer away from my thoughts, but I understood him now. A part of him still didn’t consider himself worthy of what we had.
I had my work cut out for me, there. But after the waterfall, I had hope.
He’s just being sexily evasive,Matt stated.And no more bleedin’ waterfalls.
Is sexily evasive a thing?I asked.
It’s the opposite of being a male whore,Talakai cut in.A role he cultivates well.
Hey. Just because I prefer dipping to flogging, that doesn’t make me a whore.But Matt’s lips twitched.
I’m sure I’d be annoyed if I had any idea what you just said,the Dragon griped.
The gate loomed up out of the drizzle, and I said,Okay, boys. Focus now.
I am focused,Matt protested, his eyes gleaming as he stared at me.
On the mission,I added with a sigh, gazing up at the portal.
It was a towering, impressive structure that spanned the distance between the canyon walls. The guards saw us coming from far away, but didn’t emerge from their warm and dry station until we were almost on top of them.
I couldn’t blame them. Matt and I were seated mostly beneath the canopy and were still soaked. Talakai and Emmanuel positively dripped as they stopped to await the guards.
Three came forward, so wrapped in their own cloaks that I couldn’t determine the species beneath.
“Do you have an invitation?” one demanded.
“I do not need one,” Emmanuel rumbled.
“You can turn right around and go back the way you came,” a second snarled.
Morons,Matt stated.
Not the decision makers we need,Talakai agreed.
Apparently, Emmanuel concurred. “Where is your captain?” he demanded. “I will not stand out here in this pissy weather debating with minions.”
The guards exchanged glances, and then one turned and jogged back to the station. A moment later, he re-emerged with another, whose stiff stance indicated his lack of amusement with being dragged out into the rain.
He didn’t beat around the bush, either. “Are you responding to a summons?” he asked.
“No. I am on a regular rotation,” Emmanuel replied easily.
The mercenary captain tilted his head. “This place is off the usual trade route.”
“I was in Cakast, and someone mentioned you might be requiring travel gear.”
The man stiffened. “How would they know that?”
Emmanuel shrugged. “News travels fast. I specialize in such things—Trantil equipment and camp items. Thought it might be profitable to pay you a visit.”
