"I don't know," Jigano responded grimly, shaking his mane in agitation. "But it's a bit late to worry about that now--"
"My feather will protect you!" the bird desperately chirped, trying to flutter her wings within the net. The horse grunted as if stung, taking a few sharp steps forwards as her heat began to singe his fur. "They mean you harm, woodsman! Be careful!"
The throne room that had stretched before them seemed to shrink with Jigano's attempt to get away from the burning on his flank. "Fuck! Samuel, get her off me! Maybe... I don't know... ask for her feather in exchange or something?" It was a desperate gamble, but it was all he had, and he shivered with the effort of standing still in spite of the very real pain searing his skin.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" The Vizier snapped, his smile turning to a scowl as he took a step towards them, hands reaching greedily for the net.
"Wait," the King commanded, shooting his councilor an annoyed glance. "The huntsman has done better than we had hoped. He's earned the right to ask a boon from us, as reward for his loyal service." The Vizier's scowl deepened for a second and he turned to look pleadingly at the King. Their eyes locked, and a cruel smile curled the edges of the king's lips. A moment later the Vizier bowed, his smile returning, oily-smooth.
"Of course! Your wise and generous majesty. Let everyone see your grace and largess!" He turned to Samuel once more, dark smile back in place. "So, huntsman... what would you ask of your king?"
"My feather will protect you!" the bird desperately chirped, trying to flutter her wings within the net. The horse grunted as if stung, taking a few sharp steps forwards as her heat began to singe his fur. "They mean you harm, woodsman! Be careful!"
The throne room that had stretched before them seemed to shrink with Jigano's attempt to get away from the burning on his flank. "Fuck! Samuel, get her off me! Maybe... I don't know... ask for her feather in exchange or something?" It was a desperate gamble, but it was all he had, and he shivered with the effort of standing still in spite of the very real pain searing his skin.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" The Vizier snapped, his smile turning to a scowl as he took a step towards them, hands reaching greedily for the net.
"Wait," the King commanded, shooting his councilor an annoyed glance. "The huntsman has done better than we had hoped. He's earned the right to ask a boon from us, as reward for his loyal service." The Vizier's scowl deepened for a second and he turned to look pleadingly at the King. Their eyes locked, and a cruel smile curled the edges of the king's lips. A moment later the Vizier bowed, his smile returning, oily-smooth.
"Of course! Your wise and generous majesty. Let everyone see your grace and largess!" He turned to Samuel once more, dark smile back in place. "So, huntsman... what would you ask of your king?"
