Senses activated inside the big man, detecting the silent chemicals the palta gave off and he could tell the creature was not only aggressive but in pain too. Something inside Dumar connected with this sense of pain and loss and the palta halted for a second before aiming a swipe at Dumar's head.
As fast as he was, Dumar ducked the blow with ease and stood to face the creature once more.
"He didn't leave you," Dumar explained as if the animal could understand him. "He was killed, that's why he doesn't come to see you any more."
Frenot tilted his head to one side as if he did understand but tried again to step forward through Dumar. The big man shoved his hands forward, leaning into the massive palta's chest.
Muscles twitched beneath his hands as he shoved against the animal, denying its passage and Dumar could clearly feel the deep growl the Palta issued rattling through his arms.
"No!" Dumar said with more force.
Frenot pushed again. Dumar pushed back.
"Dumar, do not do this!" Tindar begged from behind him.
The big man heard another commotion from behind his position but had no time to look as the palta before him set his legs and tried to bowl him down.
Dumar dug his fingers in, gripping fur and muscle in equal measure as he set his own muscles and made his body rigid.
Frenot walked forwards, Dumar set in place before him as his feet slid across the floor.
Neither he nor the Palta were willing to give in and it became a battle of wills.
Yet the animal was far more powerful than even Dumar and eventually Frenot pushed Dumar up against the wall, forcing his head down against the big man's chest.
The animal's lips pulled back to reveal the full compliment of teeth and Dumar grabbed the lower pair of longest teeth twisting his arms to deflect the mouth.
Carried on the animal's hot breath came the stench of rotting meat from between the Palta's teeth.
Dumar bared his own teeth with the effort of trying to keep the Palta from biting him but managed to fend the animal off.
The palta's eyes widened in surprise as Dumar managed to turn his head and he abruptly pulled back, releasing Dumar.
Gasps came from beside Dumar as the huge animal sat on his haunches and regarded Dumar quizzically.
Looking to his side he saw several of the grooms had returned with long spears and nets to try and contain the beast. All of them were looking from Dumar to Frenot and back, whispering at the scene before them.
"Better now?" Dumar asked the Palta, stepping towards him.
Frenot lowered his head and huffed air at Dumar as if to say he had given in.
"I simply cannot believe it!" Tindar cried. "In the near century since the king was taken from us, Frenot has never accepted anyone else."
"Guess I'm just special," Dumar said ruffling the creature's throat and chest. "Eh, boy?" he asked the palta.
Frenot issued a low growl Dumar took for assent. Tindar approached and the large creature snapped at him, his jaws closing inches from his chest. The master rocked back and stared at Dumar.
"It would appear you are the only one he will allow near him," he said in a shaky voice.
The Palta master selected his own mount and demonstrated the best way to climb onto the beast.
With no saddle or any other means of holding on, the big man put one foot on the leg Frenot lifted for him and leaped up onto the animal's back.
Frenot stood there, trembling for a moment before recalling the feeling of having a rider on his back. Dumar buried his hands in the thick fur covering the Palta's shoulders and hung on.
"Seek the bond," Tindar said matter of factly.
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Dumar demanded.
"Riding Palta bond telepathically with their rider," Tindar said.
The creature he was on leaped to the side, turned in a tight circle and bowed its front legs, all while the man astride it seemed to know exactly what was about to happen.
"Seek the bond," Tindar repeated.
"I don't know what that even means let alone how to do it," Dumar cried, rocking on Frenot's back in an attempt to make him move.
The Palta shook his head and snorted but remained still. Dumar was overcome with an immense sadness, a clutching pain that grabbed his chest and squeezed.
Loss and misery threatened to overwhelm him and for a moment he thought he was about to cry.
What's this? I've no reason to be this sad just because a creature won't respond to me.
The thought came to Dumar that Grethron had told him the bond between palta and rider could be so strong emotions could be felt through it, even though the old man had never felt that himself.
Yet that could not be the case here, surely? Dumar tried to push past the feelings of loss and misery, of loneliness and pain, to move beyond them and into a deeper connection with the animal, if that was what this was.
The oddest sensation flowed over Dumar then. It felt as if he was on the verge of sleep, where colours became abstract and flowed like liquid.
The swimming sensation, while not unpleasant, was not something Dumar wished to experience for long.
Luckily the phase passed fairly rapidly and Dumar found himself seeing through two pairs of eyes. It was another strange feeling seeing the world through his eyes as well as through the eyes of the palta he was riding and he shook his head trying to clear his vision.
"That is right," Tindar said. "Let it come, do not fight the feeling."
Dumar tried to relax his mind and vision, the two modes of sight gradually melding into one as his brain rapidly adjusted to the sudden added input.
Dumar found thinking of it as additional input helped his brain cope with the added information and after a few minutes his sight resolved, becoming clear. Dumar looked around with both sets of eyes, only becoming aware the Palta beneath him was turning his head as Dumar turned his.
Is is working? He wondered.
A need to hunt washed through Dumar next, not a want but a burning desire to chase and run down prey. A vicious delight in the memory of hot blood filling his mouth brought saliva to his jaws and Dumar swallowed with relish.
Sounds too became clearer. While Dumar's hearing had been improved beyond human limits by the Company, the additional input from Frenot's senses was incredible and Dumar found he was able to tune into some of the sounds, Frenot's ears turning as he concentrated.
A beehive issued a low hum, the insects within communicating the best place to find nectar to their mates. Somewhere far off a couple were making love where they should not be, somewhere in the palace grounds off to his left.
Overhead a bird cried forlornly before another bird dived on it from above and cut the cry off in a squawk of pain and terror.
Dumar imagined himself stepping forwards and Frenot responded by taking a halting step. Dumar could actually feel the ground beneath his feet as the Palta slowly walked towards the large door at the far end.
"Impressive," Tindar cried from behind Dumar as grooms hurried to open the door before they both bumped into it.
Both animal and rider enjoyed the feeling of sun on their shoulders as Dumar rode Frenot out of the stables and into a large paddock.
"Do not force it," Tindar advised as he rode his own mount out behind Dumar. "Just ease into it and allow the bond to strengthen. It takes time before more advanced manoeuvres ca…"
Tindar watched open mouthed as Dumar urged Frenot into a gallop across the paddock.
The big man grinned as he turned and jumped the animal about, his balance perfect as he sat astride the palta. Every move the palta made, Dumar understood and knew how to counterbalance in order to remain aloft.
A small crowd of servants and grooms gathered to watch the spectacle, many of them commenting on Dumar's choice of mount. By the time Frenot was tiring, the sun was beginning to wane towards the horizon and both palta and rider were hungry. Dumar guided Frenot back inside where grooms cautiously fed him meat, still keeping their distance.
Dumar slid from his back and felt an abrupt loss as the link was broken he moved around to where the Palta was chewing through the bones of some poor creature and stood before him, looking up.
Frenot lowered his head and gently touched his forehead to Dumar's. The pair stood that way for a few moments, Dumar promising the animal he would return. He had no idea if the animal understood his thoughts but hoped so.
"I need something to eat," Dumar told the guards. "Know anywhere I can eat?"
"My lord, if it pleases you, I believe you are to dine with the royal family," one said.
"Lead on, my good man," Dumar said, buoyed by the riding session.