Page 58

But instead of a horse’s neck, there was a human torso. Or at least a human-like torso. There was no belly button as that was on their horse stomach. No nipples either, and both males and females seem to be flat-chested. The torso was kind of barrel-shaped, and more than a little hairy, with the males being hairier, and they were all muscular. While they had spoken to Pan in one language, amongst themselves, they seemed to use another.

“The language you spoke…is that the one from your world?”

Pan nodded but kept his gaze on the people in the camp.

“Do you also understand this language?”

Pan’s lips curved. “The more you speak English, the faster they will learn it. For the moment, it is best not to speak.”

Noah bit his lower lip but couldn’t keep silent. “Are we going to die?”

“I have requested a meeting with the queen.”

The guard tapped the butt of his spear on the ground and said something.

Pan replied, and they had a short conversation, before Pan spoke in English. “he said, no talking.”

Web and Liam sat on the other side of Noah, all linked by a rope around their necks.

Liam fiddled with his fingernails.

Web scowled. “I need to piss.”

Now didn’t seem to be a good time to ask for a toilet break. Was Web hoping to do a runner?

“I will ask,” Pan said. “If you attempt to flee, you will take a spear to the back.”

“That’s murder,” Web snarled.

Noah had to agree that it was a rather brutal punishment for running away, but he wasn’t about to jump into the argument, having been told to shut up by both a centaur and a god.

“Do they act like they care?” Pan tilted his head at the centaur guarding them. “Do you think your human authorities will care about one more death amongst all this chaos?”

The centaur tapped his spear again and issued an order that only Pan understood.

Pan spoke and pointed at Web.

The centaur laughed and pointed at Web as he spoke. Whatever he said didn’t sound very nice. Noah decided he disliked centaurs intensely.

Pan pressed his lips together. Noah noticed he did that when what he was about to say may not be well received. “He said you may piss where you sit.”

“I can’t even stand?”

“If you stand, we all have to stand,” Noah said. There wasn’t that much rope between them.

“Either hold it in or sit and piss, as I don’t want to choke or be stabbed by a spear.” Liam glared at Noah. “Where’s the dragon?”

Noah shrugged and glanced at Pan, not sure even the god had a clue what was going to happen.

The centaur with the long beard walked over and spoke to the guard, who then untied Pan.

Panic fluttered sharp and bright in Noah’s chest. He’d thought they’d all go to see the queen. Instead, they were being left behind.

“I’m going to see the queen. Pray for me.” He gave Noah a nod and was marched away by Beard.

“I suppose you want us to pray to Pan again?” Web said sulkily. “He’s not your usual god.”

“He’s Silas’s god.” The lie was heavy on his tongue.