“You’re completely proper,” I say.

Then I dig in.

The meals is definitely scrumptious, although it’s extra alien than I might need preferred. The fish tastes like a tangy and candy type of salmon, the greens hardy like kale. I’ve been dwelling on jerky and canned meals with the occasional unseasoned fish or squirrel, so that is undoubtedly an enchancment. Nyrik watches me eat, his expression unreadable—since he doesn’t precisely have a face.

“So right here’s what I’m questioning,” I say. “You’ve already caught this factor, presumably. How do you count on me to win in a looking competitors?”

He hums. “You understand this swamp,” he says. “I can see it in the way in which you navigate the terrain, and I do know you retain a looking publish just a few miles from right here.”

“Okay—so I’ve a house discipline benefit,” I concede. “However you may have claws, you’re large, you’re muscular, you’ve received superior weaponry…and I’m only a woman.”

Nyrik huffs out a snort. “You suppose you’ll be able to trick me into considering you’re innocent.”

“I do know I’m not innocent,” I say. “However I’m additionally not a dinosaur.”

He makes a bizarre sound in his throat that I believe is fun, and his frill flares out in a ripple of emerald and gold. “Advantageous,” he says. “I’ll hunt utilizing solely my claws and my tooth—and none of my monitoring gear. Does that appear honest?”

“No,” I say. “I additionally need one in all your weapons.”

He narrows his eyes, peering at me like he can see proper by means of me.

“You hope to pierce my armor and escape,” he says.

“Are you able to blame me?”

His frill ripples once more. “After we eat, I’ll take you to my armory and you’ll choose a weapon—although I can’t promise they are going to be straightforward to make use of.”

“I’m a fast research,” I say.

He makes that bizarre sound once more. “I’m certain you’re.”

The uncomfortable feeling I received earlier burns in my chest, and I flip my consideration again to my meals in an try to ignore him. Okay—possibly I’ll admit there’s one thing interesting about him. I’ve by no means met somebody who revered my abilities this a lot, who appears to benefit from the thrill of all of it fairly like I do. This man’s complete life is looking.

“How did you get into looking?” I ask. “You’ve clearly been at it for some time.”

He seems previous me as if he’s deciding whether or not or to not inform me extra.

“I’ve been a hunter since beginning,” he says. “On my planet, it’s not one thing one does purely for sport; we’re contracted to hunt animals and different quarry, lifeless or alive relying on the contract.”

“The place’s your planet?”

“You wouldn’t realize it,” he says. “It’s a place populated by my folks, the Mlok.”

“And also you’re raised to be hunters?”

“A few of us,” he says. “However not all. It’s sophisticated.”

I stare at him, marveling on the prospect of distant worlds. I’ve by no means been one to imagine in that stuff—however right here I’m, speaking to a fucking lizardman concerning the tradition on his homeworld.

“So give me a debrief,” I say. “What do I would like to fret about with this factor?”

Nyrik seems over his shoulder on the zimya, which has unwound to crawl up the facet of the enclosure on eight quick, lizard-like legs. It dips its head right into a bowl of water and laps at it, peering at us with what I’m assured is evil intent.

“There are two main weapons on the zimya’s disposal,” Nyrik says. “Its jaws—which comprise a robust venom—and its means to constrict its enemies till they suffocate and their bones break. You need to evade each its chunk and its grasp.”

“And what’s one of the best ways to do this?”

“I’ll allow you to resolve,” he says. “It wouldn’t be enjoyable if I instructed you all the things.”

Supply: www.seynovel.com