“Sad.”
I was rather proud of what we’d built here, so her shitting all over it was starting to grate on my nerves. “Our river has a Squalo in it. Did yours?”
“Only the spirts of the dead Squalos swimming their way to hell, I assume. You’re lucky you have such a deadly ally. If it hadn’t been for you having a Squalo in your gang, the local Latrocinium would have crushed you the day you disrespectfully pinned that notice upon your door without asking our permission first. By the time we’d gathered enough men todefeat a Squalo, Joran had heard of your endeavor and ordered us to wait and observe instead… Speak of the devil. There’s your shark man now.”
Trax wandered in, six and a half feet of sleek grey and white muscle, crunching happily on a large but very human-looking femur that he held as if it were a lollipop. “Good morning, Carnavon. I was delighted to discover that someone threw several corpses into the canal last night. This was an unexpected treat.”
“Were they about this tall?” I held my hand out a bit over my head. “And covered in black hair?”
“Yes. They were meaty and very hairy. I cannot digest so much hair and will have to cough up a considerable hairball later. Despite that, they were quite edible. I see from your mind picture that you are responsible for this feast. Thank you for the roasted one. He had a smokey flavor.”
Dathka’s starkly pale face rarely displayed any emotion, but it was clear from the subtle shaking of her hands that Trax scared her. As he should. Only a fool wouldn’t be nervous around a Squalo. Despite his massive bulk, Trax padded over in complete silence, staring at her with his tiny black eyes.
“This one wears the black band. Is she a threat? Should I eat her?”
“Hold off on that. I’ll let you know.”
She cringed a bit as her mind was bombarded by Trax’s peculiar method of communication. “What’s he saying?”
“He says that his name is Tracks the Blood Trail Regardless of Extreme Temperatures or Crushing Pressures, but you can call him Trax or Mr. Bloodtrail. Trax, this is Dathka Walker, of the Latrocinium.”
She actually took a knee and gave him a bow of deep respect. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Mr. Bloodtrail.”
I was a bit surprised. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you address anyone halfway decently.”
“My family’s patron is Brotbeck, Saint of Murder. That is our legacy.” She stood up. “Yet even the heirs of Brotbeck must pay respect to the legendary Hunter Killers of the Squalo Empire.”
“I am flattered by this abnormally pale human’s words, Carnavon, but she is mistaken. I am not a member of that elite order. The Hunter Killers are the Empire’s finest. You should inform her that I am but a humble monk, come to study the ways of you land creatures.”
Considering Trax’s mere presence had kept the Latros from reflexively stomping on us, I thought back,We’ll keep that part our little secret for now. The Latros thinking you’re all that is a deterrent.
“I am dangerous, but I am not Squalo elite Hunter Killer dangerous… Ah. This must be the human concept known assubterfuge.Fascinating.”
“Let’s continue.” I gestured for Dathka to keep walking. Conveniently for me, Trax followed along behind us. His presence might actually keep her humble. “Next to the water room’s the kitchen and mess. Over there is the earth room, on account of that tower wall shattering upon impact, so the floor’s now made of soil.”
“Why’s that door boarded up and chained shut?”
“We’ve put a temporary hiatus on practicing earth spells. There’s a rogue Elemental spirit lost here and it keeps sticking itself to earth spells. We have to purge the area before continuing.” I said that as if I’d known that all along, and hadn’t just picked it up from her boss recently.
“Why don’t you just purge it, then?”
“Regrettably, that’s not a spell any of us know yet.”
“I do.”
“Really?” It would be really nice to get our earth room back. “Would you care to demonstrate?”
“What’s in it for me?”
A valid question. “It would certainly end any disputes over you taking up space and eating our food until our adventure’s done, and Azarin wouldn’t suggest you go live in the canal instead.”
“It is a fine canal,”Trax added helpfully, not that Dathka could understand him. “There are some fish to eat and occasionally larger corpses float by.”
“I’ll consider it,” she said.
“Does she mean she will consider living in the canal or casting this spell?”
She means the spell, Trax.It was a good thing I’d learned to silently think letters and pictures to the oblivious Trax, because if some of our conversations were overheard in public, it would surely remove a lot of our Squalo’s dangerous mystique.
