The darkness rumbled with a soft chuckle that seemed to run icy fingers along Lyra's spine.<strong>"Is she now?"</strong>Lyra's eyes could see as the Sluagh king began to move, circling round here with a slow, steady pace.<strong>"And what words did she bid you bring me, little handmaid? What words exactly did she tell you to speak, that would flutter from that frantically heaving breast?"</strong><br/><br/>His feet passed once more into her vision, and her chin was tipped back a single long finger that raised her eyes to his. His eyes closed as he drew a deep breath in through his nose, then opened to fix intently on her. A dull rumble echoed from his throat ... it could have been satisfaction, recognition, anticipation, or something more primal yet that  reflected in the gleam of his eye. The noise of a predator that has prey trapped, and is trying to decide just how hungry it is.