Chapter 19
Keelie
It takes a couple of seconds for my eyes to adjust to the bright lights inside the ship coming from the darkness outside.
Three males are standing talking to Ahstahl when the door closes behind Aercek and me.
The largest of the males stands a few inches taller than even Aercek and has to outweigh him by at least fifty pounds.
What’s most shocking is his coloration. Bright pink fur, white scales, and orange eyes make a striking color combination, and I have to admit that he's…
pretty. Until he opens his mouth. His voice is a loud boom as he greets us.
“I was starting to think you made up having a mate so you didn’t have to do any heavy lifting!”
Indignation slices through me at his comment.
How dare he say that!
Before I can blister him with words, one of the shorter males with emerald green scales, deep blue fur, and yellow eyes to the left of him, smacks the giant upside his head with the end of his tail.
“Cease your prattling, Ofeig! You’ve gone and made a poor first impression on Keelie.”
Glaring at Ofeig, I keep my mouth shut as the third male with tan fur, black scales, and blue eyes rushes to apologize.
I can feel the tension in Aercek’s big body. “Ofeig didn’t mean it like that, Aercek, don’t take it out on his hide. You’ll force Ketil and me to have to patch him up before we can leave.
Realizing he’s made a rather massive faux pax, Ofeig stutters out. “I’m sorry, Aercek, Ahstahl. I didn’t mean it as an accusation. I was merely jesting.”
Narrowing his eyes at Ofeig, Aercek slowly lowers me to the ground before replying. “Apology accepted, Ofeig. Just see that you remain respectful of my anima going forward.”
Ofeig, the dunce, nods bashfully in agreement before turning and making a hasty escape. Sighing heavily, Ketil, the blue and green male, turns and follows him down the corridor until they’re both out of sight.
Turning back to the remaining male, he offers me a smile and bows before introducing himself.
“Greetings, Keelie. It’s so nice to finally make your acquaintance. I’m Eyjolf. The giant, bumbling fool is, as you now know, Ofeig, and the quiet one is Ketil. They’re both my frater vinculum for better or worse.”
Instantly, I can tell that Eyjolf is the charmer of the three, and offer him a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet all of you.”
Aercek must have had enough of the social niceties, because he starts barking out orders to the affable Eyjolf.
“Start prepping for departure. We need to make two stops before we leave the atmosphere, so make sure everything is in order. Ahstahl and I are retiring to our quarters, and we aren’t to be disturbed unless it’s of grave importance. Am I clear?”
Eyjolf nods decisively and replies. “Understood, Aercek,” before turning on his heel and striding off deeper into the ship.
Ashtahl slinks over and stage whispers. “So, we may have failed to mention that Aercek is the Captain of this vessel and is the head warrior-hunter in our village.”
Aercek’s head drops back, and he stares at the ceiling in exasperation.
Whispering back to Ahstahl, I prod at Aercek’s dwindling patience. “You don’t say, I never would have guessed something like that.”
Whirling on us, Aercek’s crimson eyes are full of irritation at our needling, and he bares his teeth in annoyance before grabbing me and tossing me over his shoulder.
Laughing at him, I call out, “Was it something we said?” Only to completely lose the battle with my laughter when he snarls in response as Ahstahl follows behind to wherever it is we’re going.