Twenty-Nine
“So Demon’s truly sorry he killed that groom?” Roke sounded skeptical as he raised an eyebrow at Elli. They were resting in their room at the palace after a full afternoon of getting to know the huge zorel.
“Yes, he truly is!” Elli insisted, frowning up at the big warrior. “Albie was his favorite groom and he really didn’t mean to burn him. He was just trying to get away from the rope and the pain prods they were poking him with, poor darling.”
Roke snorted.
“That ‘poor darling’ nearly killed you as well, before you tamed him. Just look at this.”
He walked over and raised her right arm, showing the angry red burn she’d gotten from her first encounter with Demon. It really was painful, Elli had to admit, though she’d scarcely noticed it during her time with the big zorel.
“That was an accident,” she said, frowning as she pulled her arm away. “He said he was sorry for that, too.”
Roke frowned at her.
“You’re talking like he was actually speaking to you!”
“Well, you know—he almost was.” Elli leaned forward excitedly. “Do you know, with most zorels I usually just get a sense of their emotions—what they’re feeling, what they want or what they’re afraid of—things like that. But with Demon, the connection was so…” She shook her head, trying to think of how to explain. “It was so easy—so effortless. And yet so deep.”
“Deep, huh?” He still looked skeptical.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Elli exclaimed. “You didn’t look at me like that before when I told you I could communicate with zorels. You acted like it was perfectly natural—don’t try to make me feel crazy now, like everyone else I’ve ever talked to!”
“I’m sorry,” Roke relented at once. “It’s just that he’s so damn dangerous—maybe I don’t want you to have an instant connection with him.” He took her by the shoulders and looked into Elli’s eyes. “Or maybe I’m jealous,” he murmured. “Maybe I want to be the only one with a connection with you, little priestess.”
Elli felt her cheeks getting hot but somehow she couldn’t drop her gaze.
“Roke…” she whispered, remembering exactly how closely “connected” they had been the night before. “You don’t have to be jealous, it’s different with zorels. They’re a little like children—although I have to say, Demon is definitely the smartest zorel I’ve ever connected with.”
“Oh?” He released his hold on her shoulders and gave her an interested look. “What does that mean?”
“Well, to start with, it means he’s definitely trainable,” Elli said. “Though it’s going to take some work on my part. He’s never had a rider on his back before.”
“Are you afraid he’ll throw you or trample you?” Roke was tense at once, ready to suggest taking her to safety, Elli was sure. So she hastened to reassure him.
“No, no—I’m not afraid for myself at all,” she said quickly. “Demon would let me ride him tomorrow if I asked him, I’m sure. It’s getting him to let someone else ride him that worries me.” She shook her head. “If he does let someone ride him, they’ll have to be respectful and kind and earn his trust. He’s not the kind of creature who can be ‘broken’ to the saddle—he might agree to carry a rider, but it will always be on his terms.”
Roke snorted.
“Somehow I don’t think the Crown Prince is going to like that idea. He doesn’t strike me as the respectful and kind type.”
“Yes, that might be a problem.” Elli nibbled her lower lip thoughtfully. “I wonder if I might try to train him at the same time I’m training Demon?”
“Train His Majesty?” Roke gave her an incredulous look. “What makes you think that’s even possible?”
“It might not be, but it would be helpful if I could,” Elli said, frowning. “These Tenebrians really do have the most backwards ideas about zorel training. The idea of hurting or hitting an animal until its spirit is so broken it will allow you to sit on its back and carry you around is just the wrong way of thinking!”
“Oh?” Roke raised an eyebrow again. “And what’s the right way?”
“Communicating with it, of course!” Elli exclaimed. “Letting it know what you want and finding out what it wants as well. Promising to protect it and care for it. Loving it.”
“I’m not sure you’re going to be able to convince the Crown Prince of all that,” Roke said skeptically. “I have an idea the only person His Highness really loves is himself.”
“You’re probably right, but I have to at least try,” Elli said firmly. “Otherwise, getting him up on Demon’s back will be harder than…well, than anything I can think of,” she finished with a sigh.
“And how long do you think it’s going to take?” Roke asked, raising his eyebrows. “How long do we have to stay in this fucked-up Court where they all switch partners at supper every night and eat rotten eggs for breakfast the next morning?”