“Who are you?” Aven asked. The boy turned his head away, slumping back against the wall. “Just another corpse," he said.

The stallion reared, hooves kicking and the two stablehands dove for cover as the horse snorted and screamed, turning about in the stall.

“K'tall?” Aven whispered into the darkness. “K'tall… it’s just me. I wanted to talk to you, come out.”

The barbarian and the baby had only put half a day between themselves and the pirates.

Recognition dawned on Aven… then a defiant smirk. “I’m sorry, old man, but I’m only a bitch to someone much younger than you.”