"If you like. As I said, they're peaceful, and they certainly wouldn't hurt me." Arrogance and confidence. Two things he had pushed himself to project during his imprisonment, two things, he knew, he had faltered in showing. He needed to give that sense of security back. Braxiatel was never afraid and always in control, so he smiled, arrogant, and strode out to the Khalkotauroi showing no signs of fear. And if Braxiatel was safe, would he allow any harm to come to his favourite archaeologist?

Of course not.

Braxiatel held a hand out to one of the giant bulls, slow and careful without showing any signs of actual cautiousness. When the bull was content with that, he ran his hand over the side of its face.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" he called back to Benny.