Her smile fell at his brusque manner and he felt a pang of guilt. He was not generally so curt, but it was a struggle just to communicate precisely at that moment. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to hold his lack of manners against them. The corner of her mouth quirked up, and she jerked her chin toward the center road just in front of them.
“That there will take you the center of the Citadel. The market is the square. It’s hard to miss. Look for Farick’s Tannery and Leather Goods. He’ll be happy to take your furs.”
“My thanks,” he rumbled and turned away.
Bero glanced at him as they strode down the road.
“That was a healthy female. Why did you not offer for her to join us? That would have saved us time. I would prefer not to linger here any longer than I have to.” The last was uttered with a pained look that Yeril felt it down to the marrow of his bones.
“I agree, but it is unwise to rush on such an important decision,” he replied. “First, we will trade in our goods, and then we will search for an agreeable mate that we desire—not the nearest female at hand. We will show them our strength and the human coin for our trade. They will see that we are desirable males and will flock to us. It will be merely a matter of selecting from among them.”
“I see,” Bero murmured. “And how do we find a sufficient number of females from whom we can select?”
At his other side, Furis grumbled in agreement. Yeril scratched his jaw thoughtfully but stiffened when Furis suddenly turned to shout out to the guard.
“Where might we find a lot of females from which we might make a selection?” he called back.
Yeril suppressed a groan. That was bolder than he would have chosen to go about it. He wanted to woo a female, not announce their attentions so baldly. The guard understandably fell silent in response to the brash question, but to his surprise, after a moment, she answered, shouting back to them.
“Go to the tavern, The Lucky Bull! It will be lit up and full of people drinking and eating. There are always a lot of people gathered there every evening.”
“My thanks!” Furis yelled back and glanced over at Yeril with a broad grin, twitching an ear apologetically at the disapproval etched on his lead’s face. “My apologies, Yeril. I did not mean to overstep. I just do not wish for this mate selection to take too long. Imagine… Having our pick of a female! Such a thing of would be unheard among our clans. No doubt the other males will be envious of us.”
Yeril slanted an irritated look at the male.
“It will take however long it takes. Do not be in such a hurry. I am eager to escape this place too, but I will not approach a female on our triad’s behalf unless I am sure she is the right one for our family.”
Furis grimaced, his shoulders bowing in frustration. Yeril took no pleasure in reminding his triad brother that he controlled the manner in which their triad courted. It was not to dismiss or devalue the input and interest of his brothers, but as the lead, he shouldered the responsibility of selecting the perfect mate for them. He was the one who would be tasked with winning her over. He turned an ear toward Bero as the male glanced at their brother with sympathy shining in his eyes. Yeril sighed. He did not care for seeing his family’s excitement dulled. He nudged Furis with one arm and gave him reassuring smile.
“Do not worry. We will find the perfect mate, and she will be everything that we have always wanted.”
“Breathing?” Bero teased, getting a laugh from Furis.
Yeril lifted all four of his eyes heavenward in an exaggerated show of exasperation.
“That, among other things,” he chided Bero, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite himself.
Furis shook himself, his fur fluffing as an exuberant grin stretched the corners of his muzzle once more. “I am certain we will know her the moment that we see her.”
Chapter 4
Furis had been deluded in believing that they would know their perfect mate on sight, he realized now. Worse, he had been incorrect in thinking that not only would Yeril quickly pinpoint a female, but that he would, despite his protests, be eager to begin courtship.
He glared at his reluctant triad lead. Yeril was proving to be just as uncooperative as he had been all day. Perhaps not as bad, since he was actually looking at the females this time, but he betrayed no interest in any of them, much less an inclination to advance with the first overtures of courtship toward a receptive female.
How could Yeril not be interested? The moment they had stepped into the market, Furis had instantly been captivated. Although there were some females who had watched them warily, there was no shortage of soft-bodied and surprisingly sweet-smelling humans who were eager to press close to attract the interest of his triad. Furis would have been happy to select a mate from one of them, unabashedly enthusiastic that the situation in the Citadel was as different as promised. He had been like a rog experiencing his first true season of flowers, eyes wide with fascination and nose drawing him to one female after another. No doubt it would have led him completely if not for Yeril’s iron command of their triad.
In truth, he hadn’t minded so much. There had been plenty to entertain his interests. He not only been fascinated with the females but also with how few males there were in the Citadel. Among them were even fewer mateless ones who could be competition, as far as he had been able to determine. It was as if the gods were smiling upon them as he watched the females vie to attract their attention. It was intoxicating to be surrounded by all those welcoming arms, and so he had enthusiastically put forth his suggestion as he stared longingly after them, an eager hunger burning within him. Naturally, Yeril, their triad’s lead, had refused yet again, his mind focused on their trade.
Furis had agreed, despite his reluctance. It had been difficult to pull away and focus on their business, but he had assured himself that his triad brother would come to his senses once they arrived at the tavern. And at first, everything had seemed to be moving in a positive direction. They had received plenty in exchange for the furs and various goods they brought into the Citadel, enough to fill their sacks with human goods that could be enjoyed by their triad and those who lived in neighboring territories. Everything awaited them packed in their travel sacks, stored in locked boxes, in the trade station near the Citadel walls. Everything had seemed to culminate into perfection in the tavern.
Upon entering, Furis had immediately perked with interest. A fire had been lit in a hearth, giving the room a wonderful warmth, and brilliant garlands and greenery filled the room with the scents of the woods and unfamiliar spices. Hot, sweet drinks called cider were served, which Furis had been particularly fond of. That led to sampling other drinks and human fare, some of which spun the senses. Especially one drink called mead, which they had all found particularly tasty.
Equally tasty were the females who had surrounded their triad like bees to a flower.
With females hovering around them and Yeril actually looking at them, Furis had been certain that they would end with a female on their arm. But his infuriating brother did little more than grunt and nod politely at anyone who approached their table! Furis did not understand it.
The females had been open about their interest as they marveled over the triad’s soft, pale fur. It wasn’t an unexpected reaction, as Furis and Bero were both silver males in their prime, nearly identical except for the dark mask of fur around Furis’s eyes and brow and his blue eyes in contrast to Bero’s golden gaze. Naturally, Yeril had been the main attraction, as was appropriate for a lead Ragoru. His fur—the palest unblemished white—helped him become a master hunter in the winter months, able to completely disappear into the snow. Yeril had tolerated the females cooing in admiration but refused to let them touch him when they reached out with their soft hands. That also did not surprise Furis, since his triad was known among the clans for not enjoying the intimacy of being touched by those who were not family.