Ah. Bungee.

Confused beast = jumbled gnu.

surrounded by drone = bee

b gnu becomes ung ee

 

US plug = bung

ease = ee

Yes...I was running out of clues...lol...over to you 🙂

the confused beast : gnu (ung) was surrounded by drone: bee...bungee

Beat US payment to a partner (1 word, 8 letters)

Is it 8 or 9 letters?

So sorry - yes, 9 letters. (Bad bad finger-slip on iPhone.)

That’s it.

 

Take it away!

An easy one...

 

"The recent King's abode is near the Hunter's mouth".

 

( 9 letters )