Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 540(@250wpm)___ 450(@300wpm)
“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, for sure. 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.”
“I promise you, it’s Raptor. I’m from the Southwind Plains, but I’ve been here for fifteen years. What’s your name?”
“Gwenna. From Honori Hold.” She thumbs a gesture at her companion. “This is Kipp.”
Kipp lifts his chin at me, the only acknowledgment I get.
“And why are you repeating, my fine Taurian?” Gwenna says the word like it’s an insult, but the bristly part of me still laps it up like wine. “If you’re such a catch?”
“My Five disbanded after they got caught stealing,” I say, deciding that most of the truth is probably a good idea. “Since I’m such a catch, they just demoted me instead of getting rid of me entirely.”
The answer surprises her. “Thieving?”
“Nothing big or I’d be in the tower waiting to be hanged.” My grin is cocky and full of reassurance. I wouldn’t normally volunteer that I’ve been caught thieving, but since I’m trying to find a thief, maybe this’ll help build camaraderie. “It happens, even in the best-run Fives. But I’ve apologized properly and they’ve accepted it, and so here I am.”