“I made my home here in these isles long before the Romans arrived,” she said. “My pets and I ruled these lands. Humans were merely our cattle to gnaw on when the hunger arose.”
“The fat ones must be extra juicy,” Ere agreed.
Wolfe blinked at how he sounded, as if the male had eaten a few fat humans himself.
With a mental shake, he continued his perusal of Guinevere’s form, looking for any chink in her armor.
“Indeed,” the creature said, her tone becoming more conversational, less murderous.
“Babies are a particular delicacy, like the sweetest grapes,” she hissed and chuckled evilly.
Wolfe resisted the urge to stab her right then and there. The eye that watched him seemed to see his hatred and delighted in it.
She was trying to goad him into action. Therefore, he could not act.
Not yet.
“Do tell,” Ere intoned.
“When the Romans came with their own dragon in tow, things began to change,” Guinevere continued.
“They rallied the natives, trained them with arms, taught them how to organize and defend themselves. Emboldened them with the strength of the red dragon. The cattle started building things. Advancing into my domain without the slightest respect or permission.”
“The gall.”
“Just so,” Guinevere sniffed.
“My pets became the hunted, no longer the feared hunters they used to be. They were forced to retreat into the Dark Woods and other nooks and crannies of these isles. I myself had to bide my time beneath the earth, for the red beast was too powerful to take head on.”
At this, she swatted a foreclaw at Merlin’s head, the way one kicked a wounded animal while they were down.
Just because they could. Just to inflict pain and humiliation.
Merlin’s face scrunched slightly as if he felt the intent behind the strike, if not the physical pain of the blow. Otherwise, he still didn’t awaken.
“But you cut him down to size,” Ere said, as if he was rivetted by her speech and taking her side.
“Well, first I tried to seduce him,” she imparted like a secret.
“Sneaky.”
“But the stupid male was one of those uppity, principled creatures who’s probably never dipped his wick in female flesh. He rejected me and left me alone.”
“Until Uther wanted to build his castle on your hill,” Ere inserted.
“Well, well,” she hissed. “It appears you are not entirely ignorant, lowly human.”
“I have a marble or two in my head.”
“Eh?” she was unfamiliar with his words, even if she took his meaning.
Wolfe comprehended his implication as well, despite Ere’s strange speech. He was getting used to it.
He and Sorin began to close in on Guinevere, slowly but surely. He had not discovered a weakness yet. He had to get closer to see.
“Do go on,” Ere invited.
“So, Merlin challenged me to a fight to the death. There was nothing for it but to engage in battle. We fought in the lake where the advantage was mine. Even so, he was winning. He had me entirely at his mercy. I was one breath away from death.”