In the Days of the Witch-Queens (Tales from The Veldt Book 1) by Uitvlugt Donald Jacob

Author:Uitvlugt,Donald Jacob
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-10-01T04:00:00+00:00

A soft cough brought Diata back to the present. She had been flexing and unflexing her claws as she had daydreamed. Soon they would all fear her, or be dead.

“So, Kiya. Let’s see what you’ve brought us, hmm?”

Kiya nodded and drew back the flap of the tent. A rattle of chains. The Breastless drew a male inside. Tall, perhaps even a head taller than Diata. Pleasantly muscular, though he now bore the signs of malnutrition. And young. Seventeen or eighteen summers. His long hair did not yet make a true mane.

Diata laughed and clapped her hands in delight. “Excellent, Kiya. Wherever did you find him?”

“One of our recent raids on a small pride. Estraal’s Pride, I think they called themselves. Not very good fighters, if this one is any indication.”

Diata rose, and the male’s eyes watched her. He had been hurriedly doused with water and scrubbed clean for this audience. He was clad only in a ragged loincloth and heavy shackles about his wrists and ankles. A redness ringed his eyes, perhaps signaling the onset of some disease. Yet in spite of his condition, there was no fear in his golden eyes. Anger perhaps, even defiance, but no fear.

The ghost of a frown passed over Diata’s lips. “Please remind our guest, Kiya, that he is in the presence of his betters.”

“Kneel, dog.” Kiya barked out the order and kicked the back of the male’s legs. The young lion sank down to his knees. He shivered and a grimace of pain crossed his face. But he did not cry out. He simply continued to study Diata.

Diata let a single claw scratch under the male’s chin. He shivered again. “Do you have a name, cub?”

No answer. Diata smiled and licked her teeth. The strong ones were always so much more fun to break.

“Hmm... Then I shall call you Farinoor...”

The male stiffened at this. Farinoor. Little Cub. The mocking name hit a nerve. Perhaps the taunt had been used against him before. It would be used against him again. She stroked the male’s left cheek.

“Have you nothing to say to me, Farinoor?”

“Only two things... Lady...”

Diata exchanged glances with Kiya. The male’s voice was soft, but pleasing to the ear. Perhaps a little hoarse due to his condition, but that only added to its charm. Diata liked her males panting. She could not decide whether the terms of respect had been given grudgingly or ironically.

“And they are...”

“The first is that you are indeed as beautiful as they say.”

Diata blinked, and then began to laugh. “Young males in chains say the most charming things, don’t they, Kiya.” Kiya only grunted in response. Jealousy, perhaps. “And what else do you have to say, my Farinoor?”

The male stared into Diata’s eyes. She did not like that look. Those golden eyes were not cowed by her presence. A fire burned in them that she did not control. She would have to make sure that changed by the end of the evening. Break the male, one way or the other.

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