“You might get nothing,” Dawson said bravely. First thing I’ll do is have it taste you.”Ĭonor tried to wait patiently. “A bear would be more likely,” Devin said, grinding his elbow into his brother’s chest. Still, Devin soon caught him and tackled him to the floor, pinning him down. Dawson was not dressed as formally as his older brother, which allowed him freer movement. “What do you expect?”ĭevin lunged at his brother, who scampered away, giggling. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Devin said. “What animal do you think you’ll get?” Dawson wondered. It was certainly nothing to boast about before it happened. There were only three kids scheduled to drink the Nectar, and the odds were against any of them succeeding. Even so, calling a spirit animal was never guaranteed, no matter what your family name. Conor knew that some families tended to form bestial bonds more regularly than others. In less than an hour, the local children who turned eleven this month would each try to call a spirit animal.
“Think you’ll summon a spirit animal, Devin?” Dawson asked. He often got annoying, but he could sometimes be pretty funny. “Everything you say, brother, is so interesting.”Ĭonor resisted a grin.
“How could Conor fall asleep?” Dawson called, giggling. The sooner he finished the clasps, the sooner he could get himself ready. “Conor keeps napping.”Ĭonor only gave Dawson a brief glance. The door flew open and Dawson, Devin’s younger brother, burst into the room. Sometimes Devin seemed to deliberately tempt him.
But arguing with a noble caused more trouble than it was worth. Having grown up counting sheep, he probably knew his numbers better than Devin. “How many more days will this take? I’m about to die of old age! Are you just inventing numbers?”Ĭonor resisted a sharp reply. “Sorry for the delay, milord,” Conor replied. “Are you done fussing around back there?” Devin asked in exasperation. If caught in a storm, Conor knew that Devin would wish for a simpler, more durable coat. The fine material was more decorative than practical. The arrangement had begun over a year ago, and was set to last at least two more.Ĭonor had to hook each fiddly clasp on the back of Devin’s coat correctly or the folds would hang crooked, and he would hear about it for weeks. Fenray had incurred debts to the earl, and Conor was helping to work them off as a servant to Devin. In all honesty, he would not have volunteered to help Devin Trunswick do anything, ever.īut Devin was the eldest son of Eric, the Earl of Trunswick, and Conor was the third son of Fenray, Herder of Sheep. GIVEN A CHOICE, CONOR WOULD NOT HAVE PICKED TO SPEND the most important birthday of his life helping Devin Trunswick get dressed. And for Fluffy, Buffy, and Mango, who are animals.
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