Tal's scowl deepened when Sah laughed - at him, the prickly man just knew it! - and the further clarifications only made it worse. "Yeah, well, that's not how it sounded," he growled back at the assurance that Sah hadn't intended to overwork his team, metaphorical hackles raised.
He was already heading for the door when the wolf ran past him and he stopped dead for a moment, watching the beast with wide eyes. It took some of the temper out of him, but only a little. The scowl was back a moment later and he gave a sharp nod. "Fine."
He shouldered his way out of the Palace and back to where the sledge still waited to sort the dogs back into their places and drive them home to beg his sisters for a favor...
An hour later he stood on the runners of his sister's racing sled, tired to the bone but stubbornly refusing to rest now that his pride was on the line. At least the trail was clear and fresh beneath the Longheat sun, and the sled flew behind the team of six. Bell's howls still lingered in his ears when he'd left without her, but he wasn't going to abuse her great heart over a Warden who was already dead.
Boreal winged ahead to check for trouble as they neared Whitebrim, and he slowed the team with quiet calls and a soft hand on the brake. Expecting trouble - because it was Whitebrim after all - Tal parked the team on the outskirts and got them turned back towards the Citadel before he settled in with them to wait for the Advisor's arrival.
He was already heading for the door when the wolf ran past him and he stopped dead for a moment, watching the beast with wide eyes. It took some of the temper out of him, but only a little. The scowl was back a moment later and he gave a sharp nod. "Fine."
He shouldered his way out of the Palace and back to where the sledge still waited to sort the dogs back into their places and drive them home to beg his sisters for a favor...
An hour later he stood on the runners of his sister's racing sled, tired to the bone but stubbornly refusing to rest now that his pride was on the line. At least the trail was clear and fresh beneath the Longheat sun, and the sled flew behind the team of six. Bell's howls still lingered in his ears when he'd left without her, but he wasn't going to abuse her great heart over a Warden who was already dead.
Boreal winged ahead to check for trouble as they neared Whitebrim, and he slowed the team with quiet calls and a soft hand on the brake. Expecting trouble - because it was Whitebrim after all - Tal parked the team on the outskirts and got them turned back towards the Citadel before he settled in with them to wait for the Advisor's arrival.
