“That’s inappropriate.”

I glare at him. “Go on.”

He cocks his head. “It’s a harmful creature often known as a zimya, native to swamps like this one. I’m going to launch it and we’re each going to hunt it…and should you win, I’ll allow you to go.”

“Describe this factor to me,” I say.

His frill flares barely. I believe that’s his model of a smile—and I believe it means he likes me humoring him. “It’s just like what you may name an anaconda on this planet, nevertheless it has legs.”

“Come once more?”

His sharp tooth glint. “Searching and trapping this creature—or killing it—is the one approach that I can make sure you gained’t get me caught. If you happen to can present your crafty, I’ll really feel secure releasing you.”

“You’re psychotic,” I say.

“I prefer to play video games, and it simply so occurs I’m usually concerned in lethal video games,” he says. “That doesn’t imply I’m not of sound thoughts.”

“And if I catch this factor, you’ll let me go?” I ask.

“I swear to the goddess of the hunt that I’ll launch you,” he says.

I look over at my wrists. “Alrighty then. Untie me and you’ve got a deal.”

He reaches round my again and in a single fluid movement slices proper by means of the cords at my wrists. A second later, his different hand is at my ankles, slicing me free.

I gasp on the launch, feeling coming again to my limbs.

“Okay,” I say. “When are we doing this?”

“Tomorrow,” he says. “You want time on your leg to get better and to have one thing to eat…then we play.”

It feels like he’s legitimately having fun with this.

I swallow exhausting and nod.

“What’s your title?” I ask. “I assume you’ve got one?”

“Nyrik,” he says. “And yours?”

I chew my lip. “Fawn.”

He cocks his head.

“A prey animal,” he says. “Fascinating.”

6

Fawn

For what it’s price, not less than Nyrik is an effective sport.

He leads me by means of a hatch within the flooring of his ship, beneath which is a tiny mess corridor and a jail cell with a translucent wall. I can see the zimya coiled on the heart of the cell, its face extra feline than reptile, a mane of feathers operating from the crown of its head down its sinuous backbone. Its inexperienced eyes keep repair on us as Nyrik units a plate of meals down for every of us—what seems like greens with some uncooked fish.

“Is that this secure for me to eat?” I ask.

Nyrik friends at me. “Our recreation could be ruined if I poisoned you—and apart from, I wouldn’t waste my rations after I may merely slit your throat.”

I swallow exhausting, my eyes broad as I stare down on the plate. It’s exhausting to get an urge for food when a lizardman is telling you ways simple it might be to kill you.

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