Chapter 54: Win Lose Draw

Chapter 54: Win Lose Draw

The unconscious frogmans wide nostrils flared as he sniffed at the air. His eyes opened and looked around, which was kind of freaky as his head didnt move, his eyes just pointed in all different directions. He didnt seem all that concerned by my presence, or the sword I was holding extra tight in my sweaty hand. His attention was on the jerky.

I threw him a piece which he caught in his mouth.

Dont worry, I said, trying to stop my voice from shaking. Im not going to hurt you.

He tilted his head and winced. Youve already hurt me, you scum. His voice was deep and from the back of his throat. He sounded a bit like Alan Rickman.

Sorry about that. What I mean is, I wont hurt you again as long as you tell me what I want to know.

Despite not wanting to kill for no reason, I was under no illusion about what it would take to get him to give me what I wanted. That was the reason I had decided to do this alone. The others would have balked at having to use violence and probably wouldve suggested a chat and maybe swapping emails.

These creatures owed us nothing and had every right to hate humans, including me. Which meant the surest way to convince them to do what I wanted was to live up to their fears.

The frogman shifted around, his hands tied behind his back making it difficult for him to sit up. Kill me if you want. You just want money, right? You people only care about money. You make me sick, man. He stared at my jerky. Thats pretty tasty. Throw me another piece.

I realised the reason why Id been able to sneak up on him, and why he was so chill about the whole situation, was because he was stoned. Whatever hed been smoking in his pipe, the effects were all too familiar. He had the munchies. I tossed him another strip of jerky. I was keeping my distance from him in case he had one of those long tongues frogs used to catch flies.

I want you to teach me how to do magic, I said.

Why?

I placed the tip of the sword against his neck. Because if you dont, I will kill you.

Obviously, I was bluffing. I had no intention of killing him. If things went pear-shaped, my plan was to leg it. I mightve been reluctant to kill but given the chance, I was sure hed have no problem ripping my throat out. Like it or not, we were enemies.

No, you idiot, I mean why do you want to learn. You humans have your own magic.

Grayson had said there were magicians, but thered been no sign of any kind of magic-wielding humans so far. If they existed, they werent very common. And even if I found one, I doubted theyd share their secrets with me.

I dont get on well with other humans. I thought this might win his trust and it wasnt exactly untrue. As soon as I arrived in this world, they put a weapon in my hand and told me to kill, but most of the monsters Ive met so far have been other humans. I want to learn your magic to defend myself against my own kind.

The frogman laughed, which sounded like a gurgling drain. Our magic is simple and harmless. Its a way to make life a bit easier, not to murder.

Okay, but show me anyway. Thats all I ask, and then Ill let you go. I threw him some more jerky.

He narrowed his eyes and thought about it as he chewed on the dried meat. Youll have to untie my hands.

It was risky. If he attacked me, my chances of survival probably werent all that great. He could use magic, for one. Who knew what other defense mechanisms he might have? Poison skin? Acid spit? Frogjitsu? But there was no point quitting now. I loosened the rope Id used to tie his hands behind his back. He didnt try to attack me or run away, he just shook his hands to get the feeling back.

Man, youre a pain. What kind of magic do you want to learn?

I didnt realise there was more than one, but I went with what Id already seen. I held up a hand. Show me how to make fire come out of your fingers.

The son lowered the spear. Two fish? Why?

Eh! Just do it. He threw the last of the jerky at his son, who caught it, sniffed it, and then stuffed it into his mouth.

They gave me two large fish that I could just about carry. The female and kid kept to the other end of the platform, eyeing me suspiciously. I was about to leave when a thought occurred to me.

I was just wondering, I said to the son, how do you keep your spear sharp?

The spear was actually very basic. A straight piece of wood sharpened to a point.

The son placed the end of the spear in his mouth and twisted it like a pencil in a pencil-sharpener. When he took it out, it was noticeably pointier.

Have you thought about using a metal blade? Like this one. I dropped one of the fish and took out my knife. I showed him the blade and then tossed it to him.

He examined it, felt the edges, put it in his mouth and tried to bite it. The he shook his head and tossed it back. Fish would slide off.

What if you could design it in the shape you wanted?

He thought about it and then placed the end of his spear in the fire. when he took it out, the tip was blackened. He used it to draw a design on the floor of the platform; a narrow blade with a curved hook on the side. It didnt look like it would be very hard for a blacksmith to make.

If I bring you a spear like that, will you teach me how to catch fish?

He glanced over at the old guy and they shrugged at each other. Then he looked back at me, still uncertain I was on the level. Maybe.

I looked over at the woman. And this I pointed at the pot on the fire which was actually a rusted old helmet. If I bring you a proper cooking pot, will you show me and my friends how to cook the fish we catch?

Who are these friends? asked the son.

Hey! I called out to the other side of the pond. Stand up!

The four members of my party stood up sheepishly. I waved at them. They nervously waved back like contestants in a who can act the most awkward competition. It was a four-way dead heat for first place.

The frogman looked confused. What exactly are you people?

It was a good question.

Do we have a deal?

He nodded.

Wait! said the female. She held up two fingers. Two pots. And a big spoon.

I smileda fellow spoon lover. Okay. All that time thinking violence was the answer when the only weapon I needed was good old capitalism.

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