Flora thought she hadn't heard King Erick correctly. Hear thoughts? Like reading minds? Like he could just hear what people think as if they're speaking? Even now? Panic set in and she gripped the reins tighter.
"Yes," he sighed with closed eyes. "Even now." He still didn't look at her, and if it weren't for years of training she'd have fallen off Condor right then and there. Thoughts crammed her head as her emotions raced, memories of some of the very real thoughts that were very much not of a respectable woman reemerging. Erick chuckled with a wry smile.
"Usually it's not a problem, I can tune it out. But it's unusual to not hear anything at all. Not unless they've specifically trained against night magic." It felt like one large info dump that Flora was not ready for. So she remained silent, contemplating and digesting the information.
"Sorry." Erick said after a while. "If it helps, I don't usually do it intentionally." It was little comfort to the fact that he very well could have heard her not-so-appropriate thoughts she'd had about him. All she could do was give a noncommittal sound in response. The two remained silent as they continued on towards the next farm.
It was mid afternoon when they arrived at the second farm of the day. It was owned by Jacob Smith, the son of Theodore Smith. The inspection went very much the same as the last. It was not quite as high end but Theodore's son clearly did well enough and the animals were all well cared for. And like the last farm Jacob left a glass bottle of milk labeled with his farm name on it.
King Erick was just as quiet as before. Polite, but short. Flora tried not to let her anxiety show as she continued about her work. What would these people do for Erick not to trust them? Are they really so bad just because he can't hear them? Flora's thoughts buzzed in between work, bouncing from observing the details of the farm to worrying about King Erick and his suspicions.
The inspection of the second farm went well. All of the animals were in good shape and the farm itself was well taken care of. By all means it was as it should be, if not better. That didn't seem to affect King Erick as they rode off for the afternoon, his face as impassive and tense as it was before.
"There's a carriage house that offers lodging on this road." King Erick started, pulling Flora out of her thoughts. "We'll stay there for the night. We'll remain incognito though." He looked at her with a question in his eyes. Flora wasn't quite sure why he did since it made sense.
"Okay." She replied with a small shrug. Erick nodded in assent and the two continued along the trail as it broadened into a well used road. They continued like this until the sun was hanging low in the sky.
Just around a bend, Flora could see a large ornate house. It must have held rooms for a good many people, and the actual carriage house in the back was almost just as large. It was colored in a forest green with a white trim, the ornamental wood and window frames standing stark against the house.
King Erick kept his horns and mark away, and Flora wondered if all shifters could just hide and show certain parts like that. It quickly led to thoughts of humans with tails and ears, which she found very unsettling.
Shaking away thoughts of lion-tailed men, Flora hopped off Condor and followed King Erick to the carriage house. There a young girl took the horses and gave them directions to the mistress of the house. Once inside, Flora found that the first floor was not like a house at all, but rather a tavern.
The entryway led to a large open floor where a good number of travelers sat at wooden tables. The room was neat and organized, and looked almost like a formal restaurant. The decor was simple but elegant, and tables were placed in neat rows.
King Erick made his way to the small bar at the back where a woman was cleaning the counter. She was a shorter woman like Flora - though nearly every woman was short next to Erick's height of six-five. She was also stocky, and older than Flora had imagined, her brown hair graying at the roots up the crown of her hair.
When Erick arrived she gave him a look up and down, clearly not impressed. "What do ya want?" She sounded irritated, despite Erick having done nothing but arrive. Erick was unfazed as he replied.
"We're just looking for a couple rooms for the night and some food to eat." His voice was quiet and polite as he offered a few coins on the table. Flora saw that it was one gold coin and two silvers, a good offer but not suspiciously good. She glanced at the woman and saw her frown as she took in the money.
"Well it's certainly enough," she started, her voice still taught. "But there's only one room, unless you wanna sleep in the barn." She gave Erick and Flora a look as if to ask what they were willing to put up with.
"You are not sleeping in the barn." Flora quickly told Erick. He gave her a look as if to say I thought I was the one to hear thoughts. Flora scowled back at him. She knew he would have offered, but also knew it was her duty to put him before herself. Besides, she's slept in barns plenty of times before. One more wouldn't be any different.
"We'll take it." Erick turned back to the woman and she just huffed in response. Turning around she grabbed a key hung on the wall behind her, the last one. The rest of the hooks were empty, showing that she was truthful in what she said.
"Here, it's the last one upstairs to the left." She dropped the key on the table in front of them. "Dinner's in an hour." She told them before returning to her work. Taking it as a dismissal, King Erick picked up his saddlebags and headed towards the stairs. Unsure of what to do with herself, Flora looked around the room.
Most people didn't pay them any mind, and those who did were more of the uninterested and bored staring type. Not feeling any comfortable, Flora quickly grabbed her own saddlebags and hurried after Erick. When she caught up to him he was already at the top of the stairs.
As if sensing her presence he paused and turned to face her. He gave a little quirk of a smile. "I suppose we could share a room, but someone's sleeping on the floor." He said, amusement dancing in his eyes. He knew. He had to. Why else would he look at her like that? Shame and embarrassment washed over her in a flash, and before she could say anything Erick's smile faded. "I didn't mean to impose, sorry." Flora peeped a response more than anything, still feeling very hot under the collar. King Erick nodded before turning and continued his way down the hall.
Flora quickened her pace to catch up with his long strides. I hadn't really thought about sleeping on the floor, but maybe the floor here would be better than the dirty hay in the barn. She mulled over this, very aware that Erick could just hear thoughts like people were talking. The thought sent a shiver down her spine as she caught up to him in the last room.
King Erick opened the door and stood just inside the door frame as he took in the room. Flora had to stand on her top toes to peer over his shoulder. He laughed softly before stepping inside. The room itself was tiny, with a single bed and armoire. Really the armoire was not necessary, and it took up half the room. The bed took up the other half, with just enough space to walk in between.
King Erick tossed his saddlebags into the armoire before taking off his riding jacket and hanging it up beside the bags. Flora stood at the entryway, waiting for confirmation that she could do the same. Do I even ask at this point? He said he 'tunes it out' but can he do that when it's just us? Or can he hear the others downstairs? Does he-
"It's very hard not to hear you right now when you're being so loud." He said over his shoulder. There was that amusement again, and Flora flushed red. He stepped back and motioned towards the armoire. "And yes, I don't mind sharing an oversized cabinet." Humour danced in his eyes and Flora's blush deepened as she quietly put her own saddlebags into the armoire, taking off her riding jacket and putting it beside Erick's.
"You're really planning on sleeping in the barn?" King Erick asked as he sat down on the bed and peeled off his riding boots. The question was genuine, and Flora had to process that before she answered.
"Well, there's not really any room here." She gestured to the tiny room.
"I'll sleep on the floor, probably under the bed a bit." Erick shrugged as if what he suggested was at all normal, let alone comfortable. Flora was about to protest when he gave her a skeptical look. "Unless you think sharing the bed is an option." It was a fair point and Flora at last shook her head.
"Alright, fine. But if you don't sleep well-" Flora paused, remembering she was talking to her king and not just another one of the farmhands. He quirked an eyebrow at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Well you won't sleep well on the floor." She mumbled, looking away. He gave one small laugh in reply before getting up and pulling the bed apart.
"What are you doing?" Flora thought he might just take half the bedding for himself to prove her wrong.
"I'm checking for bedbugs." He replied nonchalantly as he continued to scavenge through the bed sheets.
"You're what?" Flora asked incredulously. She did not like the idea that bugs could be in her bed. "I thought that was just a barn thing!" She exclaimed.
"They show up in beds too." Erick laughed as he patted down the pillows. "It all seems good though." He finished with an approving look, the bed now scattered apart. Flora rolled her eyes, but Erick didn't seem to notice as he pulled out his bed roll from the armoire.
True to his statement, his right half would have to be under the bed. Flora did not think it would be at all comfortable, and the look on her face must have said so. Or she 'thought too loud' - whatever that means, because Erick laughed again. Flora liked the sound of it, and realized he did so more often when it was just the two of them.
"I'm sure I'll be just fine." He told her, standing back up. "Besides, it's only one night."" He reassured her.
"Yes, I suppose." She nodded, well aware that they would be sharing a sleeping space yet again. He gave a small smile as he headed out.
"I'll see if there's anything to eat yet." He called over his shoulder, heading down the hall.
"Alright." Flora called back. She didn't want to look like a lost puppy, fawning over him. So she stayed in the room, sitting down on the bed. She gently unlaced and took off her boots, much more orderly than how Erick had practically ripped his boots off.
Her thoughts wandered back to him, recalling their time together last night. She still had mixed feelings about the whole thing, which were now even more muddied as she thought about his night magic and its abilities. What else can he do that I don't know about? Flora had never studied the intricacies of magic, never needing to do so. She supposed that many people don't, but now knew why so many had come to fear what kind of king Erick would prove to be.
As if summoned by her thoughts, he returned, and with food. "It's not much," he started, bringing in the large stoneware plate. "But at least it's something." He told her, setting it down on the edge of the bed.
The food was simple. It was toast, a mystery jam, and a few strips of fried meat. To Flora it was not unusual to eat something like this, but it might be out of the norm for King Erick she thought. Then she realized it was really only enough for one person.
"It's alright Your Majesty," Flora started with a shake of her head. "I can eat something from our bags." She suggested, getting up to rummage through what food they had brought.
"Don't worry about it." Erick said with a hand on her shoulder. "I'll find something else to eat. Besides, it's best if we save that for later." He said with a nod to the saddlebags. She didn't entirely want to know how or what else he would find, but images of dragons flying across the countryside and terrorizing the local sheep and cattle. Flora shook the image out of her head.
"Alright alright." She gave in, taking the plate of food and sitting on the bed to eat. "Do I want to know how you'll get yourself something to eat?" She asked with a quirk of a brow, spreading the mystery jam on a slice of toast.
"Probably not." Erick chuckled before heading out of the room once more. "I won't be long though." He said over his shoulder. A prickle of worry entered Flora's heart, but she pushed it away as she continued to eat. Erick is capable of taking care of himself. She thought, tasting the jam on the toast. It was strawberry.
Erick set out as the sun finished setting. He wasn't new to hunting, even alone. He recalled the first time his mother had taken him out to hunt as a dragon. She taught him the importance of survival.
"The world is dangerous. It always has been and always will be." She had instructed. He was young, having only just turned thirteen. "The peace between the dragon clan and unicorn clan will not last forever, and regardless of that you may find yourself in need of these skills." She bent her head low, dragon whiskers touching the ground and teeth flashing. "Survival is easier when you're the apex predator." She was deadly serious, her eyes pinning him to the spot. All he could do at the time was shake his head in affirmation before she left him there. Dragon raising is not for the weak of heart, or so she had told his father when he returned two weeks later.
He still wasn't sure how he felt about that memory as he soared over the forest, night cloaking the world in shadow. As a dragon his sight wasn't nearly as impaired as a human, and it was easy to spot the herd of deer as they finished their grazing for the day. Being crepuscular, they were most active during dawn and dusk, making them easy prey at times like this.
Erick circled the group for a moment, analyzing the deer and their behavior. Being king of the land meant he didn't have to worry about poaching, but that didn't mean he wasn't picky about what he ate. Eventually he chose a young buck, who's first set of antlers were just starting to grow in.
It was over in a flash as Erick dived down, landing squarely on the deer and snapping its spine in the process. He didn't wait as he tore into the flesh, scythe-like dragon teeth making quick work of the still warm meat. There was very little left by the time he was done, eating nearly everything but the bones and fur. He looked down at the carcass, considering yet again whether he was more beast than man.
Shaking his head clear of doubts, he decided to take the skull off the deer. The antlers were still covered in velvet fuzz, but he could probably still make use of the material. Maybe. With that, he flew off back towards the carriage house.
Changing back where no one could see him, he realized he was still covered in deer blood. An unfortunate side effect of shifting, nothing magically disappears unless you intentionally do something about it. With a quick flick of his hand most of the blood was cleaned off, save for the spots that now stained his undershirt. He frowned, sighing with resolution as he went back into the house.
He had hoped to avoid the house keeper, clutching the antlers of the deer skull tightly. So far so good. He thought as he quietly climbed the stairs to the upper floor. Rounding the corner, he bumped into her. He froze, and she gave him a cursory look up and down, a frown creasing her face.
"I'm not a fan of shifters bringing their food back to my house." Her frown deepened as she looked at the fresh deer skull. "What even are ya'? A wolf?" She asked. He was about to answer when she raised her hands. "You know what? I don't think I even want to know." Without another word she bustled down the hall to the other side. Erick watched her go before heading down to his own room.
Erick quietly unlocked the door and looked inside before entering. He found Flora was already fast asleep, blankets drawn up around her like a cocoon. The sight caused him to smile, a genuine smile. It was odd, he realized, that he just liked her. She hadn't even really done anything besides being herself.
He turned this over in his thoughts as he got ready for bed. He wrapped the remnants of the deer skull and antler in some extra canvas from his saddlebags before stripping down and rolling up in his bedroll. True to his word, at least half of him had to be stuffed under the bed, the other half brushing the legs of the armoire. It wasn't the most comfortable, but he didn't want to see Flora give up a good rest for his comfort. Erick fell into a quiet slumber, his dreams taking him to his memories once again.
He was with his parents in one of the counseling chambers. They were speaking to the various masters of state, and sat beside his father and listened. It was his job to observe, but he never spoke unless absolutely necessary. It gave his opinion more power, and allowed him to learn more about others.
The room itself was similar to the rest of the castle, and the details of the memory were blurred by sleep. It didn't really matter to him anyway, as his youngest brother Thomas hurried into the room. The others paid him no mind, but Erick saw that barely contained bundle of excitement as he bounced over to Erick's chair.
"Look, look!" Thomas excitedly whispered, though it was very easy to hear. "My adult horns are growing in!" He excitedly tipped his head to show Erick the growing buds. He would turn sixteen soon, and had shed his baby antlers last fall. It was now the middle of winter, early for growing horns or antlers, but Thomas always did everything early.
"I see that, I'm sure they'll be great." Erick smiled, tussling his brother's hair.
"You think they'll be big like yours?" Thomas asked, brushing Erick's hand away. His eyes shined with admiration as he looked up to Erick's own golden horns, large like a set of white-tailed deer antlers.
"I bet they'll be even bigger." He gave his brother a a wide grin, and Thomas matched it with glee.
"C'mon, c'mon! I've got something to show ya'!" Thomas excitedly pulled at Erick's sleeve. He earned a disgruntled cough from one of the gathered masters, and Thomas gave a baleful look in return. Their father leaned over to Erick.
"I don't really mind if you leave, go spend some time with your brother." He whispered. Erick was sure he didn't want to offend those gathered, but he would still be leaving one way or another.
"Are you sure?" Erick whispered back. His father nodded and Erick left. "Please forgive me, but I must take my leave." Erick gave a short bow before leaving the room.
The memory jumped to him and Thomas flying over the kingdom, his younger brother full of excitement and happiness as the two explored the more wild parts of their lands. Erick relished the feeling of the wind against his wings, tugging at his mane as he and Thomas flew higher and higher. It was a moment he would never forget. Then the memory shifted.
He was choking on the floor of the dining hall. He internally moaned as pain gripped his heart once more. He struggled to breath as he watched Thomas fall to the floor, his once gleeful eyes now empty.
Flora woke up at the sound of a loud thud in her bed. She panicked, looking around for the source of the noise when she noticed that King Erick was coughing on the floor. She rushed over to him again, just as she had last night. Although now there was less room, and she only ended up landing on top of him. By all the gods I'm such a klutz. She berated herself as she tried to assess the situation, standing at his feet and unsure of what to do.
Erick continued to cough and hack but waved her away. She didn't really have anywhere to go, so she just leaned away. He took a shuddering breath before he was able to get in any air again. It's just like last night. She worried, hands clenching and unclenching at her sides as she fussed over her inability to help.
"I think… We should share the bed." Flora said in a whisper almost too quiet to hear. Erick gave her a look. But before he could say anything she continued. "I know you'll refuse if I offer to sleep anywhere else, but if you do this again you might just crack your head." She gestured to the bed and the darkening lump on his forehead.
Erick quirked an eyebrow and looked at her for a moment, assessing the situation. She could see the thoughts running behind his eyes as he evaluated the proposition. He closed his eyes and sighed through his nose.
"You're right." He replied in a resolute tone, pulling himself up from the floor. "But I'd rather not put you into an uncomfortable position." He stood up, giving her a very serious stare. This was clearly something that meant a lot to him Flora noted, taking in his stare and daring to meet it.
"I'll be fine." She assured him. "Besides, I'm sure it's nothing really new to you, so I have nothing to worry about." She commented as she climbed back in bed. He flinched at the comment and she immediately realized what she had implied. "Not that it's bad! I just meant, well, you won't be a terrible bed hog." She hurried to cover up her own mistake. Foot, meet mouth. She thought miserably. He cracked a wry smile at her clumsiness.
"I'm afraid I usually take up most beds to begin with." He informed her, joining her in bed. Being an entire foot taller than her, he did indeed take up most of the bed. She was practically shoved between the wall and his back as he settled in beside her. There was a strange comfort in his warmth, juxtaposed by the harsh cold of the wall. "Just let me know if I squish you." He chuckled over his shoulder, pulling up the blankets and settling in. Flora only squeaked in response.
If being in the same tent as him was bad, being in the same bed as him was so much worse. More than once her thoughts wandered to him. Some of them were innocent enough, sleeping together like an old married couple. Others, not so much. She tried not to squirm or turn too much as she struggled to clear her head and go to sleep. Then she felt him turn in the bed beside her.
"Here, just go to sleep." He pulled her in close, arms wrapping around her waist. She stiffened at first, but the way his body pressed against her felt right. It felt like a missing piece sliding into place, and it wasn't even sexual. He was already falling into the depth of sleep as his breath evened and his heart slowed down.
Flora let go of her tension, rolling over and facing Erick. The two of them shifted into a more comfortable position, and Flora found herself flush against him. I'm a respectable woman. Was her last thought before she drifted off into sleep.
Flora woke up early the next morning, feeling better rested than the night before. She didn't realize at first why she was so snug, until she remembered who she slept with. Memories of the night came rushing in, as well as all of the traitorous thoughts that came with it. It didn't help as she felt him pressed against her, not exactly soft in any way.
That's just normal, right? For guys? Morning stick or something? Flora felt herself heating with embarrassment and something more as King Erick shifted, holding her tighter and pressing his face into her hair. A part of her felt like she could stay here forever, despite knowing they had to get up soon.
Thankfully she didn't have to do anything as a loud knock rapped on the door. Erick was instantly up, nearly throwing Flora and the blankets off the bed. "Breakfast is ready!" Came the muffled voice of the lady of the house just before the sounds of her stomping away. Or maybe she just walked that loud. Honestly, Flora wasn't sure how neither of them woke up just from her walking down the hall.
King Erick relaxed, then realized he was still holding Flora. "Ah, forgive me." He politely said he politely said as he pulled away. "It would seem I got ahead of myself." He told her with a polite smile. It wasn't anything like the smile he had when Dante had been with him. Or even the few smiles he had given her, she noticed. Erick quickly pulled himself out of bed and threw on some clothes. She noticed with some alarm that his undershirt was stained in blood.
"What happened? Are you alright?" She tried not to sound too panicked or worrisome, but couldn't help from keeping some of the worry at bay.
"Oh, right. I went out last night to eat, remember?" He asked over his shoulder, pulling his riding jacket on top of the bloodied clothes.
"Right? And?" She wasn't entirely sure how that led to him being bloody.
"I may have made a mess of myself." He laughed, picking up both saddlebags and turning to Flora. "I've got an extra shirt somewhere but we'll be riding all morning before we get to the slaughter house, so I'd rather wear clothes that are already dirty." He informed her.
Her stomach dropped. She forgot about the slaughter farm. Leon had written about it in the notes he sent with her, something about how they usually make it up to standard, but only barely. She knew it was just an important part of the process, as the rise in demand for affordable meat rose so too did the amount of animals processed. "Right." Was all she said as she got out of bed and put on her own clothes. With a nod, King Erick and Flora head downstairs for breakfast, taking their items with them.
Downstairs, many of the other guests at the carriage house had also woken up and came down for breakfast. The head woman was handing out plates of food while the young girl from the night before was cleaning tables. The two worked in silent tandem, a well practiced routine.
Erick took a seat at a small table towards the back next to a small window. Flora sat on the other side of him. He didn't say anything, but rather looked outside the window towards the fields beyond. His blue eyes turned stormy as he watched the quiet scenery.
Flora shifted uncomfortably. He obviously had a lot on his mind, but she didn't want to broach the topic and risk his wrath. She was also grateful that he seemed to either forget not notice at all what had happened that morning. She was grateful when the young girl brought over a plate of food, distracting her from her own tumbling emotions.
Flora took her plate of food - French toast with a little jar of jam - and patiently waited for King Erick to do the same. He didn't. He didn't even seem to notice the food on the table. I hope I didn't offend him. Flora worried as she tentatively began to eat. Maybe I'm offending him now? But he doesn't even seem to notice. Flora quietly worried as she ate her breakfast.
"I'm sorry about last night." His sudden statement startled Flora, and she almost dropped her food.
"Oh, um, I mean…" Flora covered her mouth with her hand, being caught off guard and managing to speak around the food in her mouth. Now you really look dumb. She thought miserably.
"I shouldn't have put you in that position." He continued, but still didn't look at her. "It was wrong of me to assume that nothing would happen." He finally turned to face her, guilt written all over his face. And yet, Flora noticed something hidden underneath it all. It was something almost like longing, a yearning almost. He quickly looked away.
"Ah… Well I suppose it could have been a lot worse." Flora pointed out, trying to lift his spirits. The sight of his guilt pained her in an odd way. He gave her an inquisitive look. "I mean, you could have actually been choking and I would have had no idea how to help." She tried to give him a half-hearted smile while panic and fear quickly mingled between his eyes. I really should just stop talking. Flora berated herself for not really thinking about how that would come out.
King Erick gave a soft chuckle. "Yes, I suppose it could have been a lot worse." With a quiet smile he picked up his own plate and began eating. Flora nearly sagged with relief. At least I'm not a pile of ash. She thought to herself before quickly eyeing the King, remembering the whole "being able to hear thoughts" thing. She looked up, and found that he either hadn't noticed or hadn't cared enough to say something.
There was a long pause as the pair went through their breakfast in peace. Flora did her best to quiet her emotions as she focused on her small meal. Eventually she broke the silence, too many questions nagging at her mind.
"Is it… Normal? For you to have nightmares like that?" She asked Erick tentatively. Erick paused what he was doing, looking like he was processing an answer before speaking.
"Kind of. Recently anyway." Was all he said. Many more questions fought for Flora's attention as she tried to pull more meaning from the simple answer. She didn't say anything, but Erick sighed all the same. "It's not something we can really discuss here." Erick eyed the other guests, and Flora guessed it had something to do with his being king.
If he's having night terrors that cause him to choke like that, and he can't discuss it without revealing who we are… Flora did not like where this line of thought was leading her. Erick gave a grim nod, and the two quickly and quietly finished their breakfast.
With a polite goodbye to the owner of the carriage house, King Erick and Flora quickly tacked up and mounted their horses. They said nothing as they got everything together and mounted their horses. They continued like this, riding down the road in early morning. King Erick's face was set into grim lines, and Flora's regret deepened.
The sun had risen to the tops of the tree line, still partially hidden by the tops of the tallest trees. It cast long shadows into the rolling hills as it burned away the last of the morning mist. Flora lost herself in the sound of the newly awakening world, the cheerful song of the birds calling out for the first time that day and the chirping of bugs as they broke free of the watery mist that hung on the grass. Eventually, King Erick spoke.
"I often miss my brother Thomas." His voice was quiet and somber, and Flora refrained from making any comments despite the many thoughts that plagued her mind. Wasn't his youngest brother sent to the Dragon Clan? Couldn't he just visit anytime? As if reading her thoughts - he likely heard them - he replied. "He died with my parents." His voice wavered, and he had to take a steadying breath before continuing. "With so many dead, the council believed it best to hide his death for a later date. Make it look like and accident." He said the last word with such bitterness that Flora was flooded with deep sympathy.
"He was young and the assassins had already killed two royals, so the council insisted on making something up to take away from the devastation. But it didn't, not really." King Erick's voice became even more quiet by the end, and Flora could not express the pain she felt for him. She knew what it was like. She knew almost exactly what it was like, having lost so many to the plague three years ago. She didn't realize it at first, but tears rolled down her face at the memories of her own family.
King Erick took a loud inhale before continuing. "But we move on. We have to." He mastered himself, gathering the reins in his hands and returning to his usually impassive yet kingly expression. "We'll make it. Together." King Erick gave Flora a supportive look and she did her best to smile and nod back.
"Together." She replied. The two continued down the road, but Flora couldn't erase the sense of dread. The next farm would be the largest farm, and the main slaughter house for many of the animals on this side of the kingdom. And they were heading right for it.