The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1) by Craig Martelle Read Free Book Online Page A

ancients?  “What do you know about the ancients?”
    “They were wise and skilled. They were like gods. They created us. They created this land. They are the ancestors o’ all creatures here. Their ti’e ended and they turned the world o’er to you. Us. All creatures. I ho’e they are ‘roud of us, ‘ut I don’t think so.”
    Braden thought about what happened in Binghamton, in Cameron. His battle with the croc. It seemed like everyone and everything was carving out their niche with no regard to anyone else. That’s not the world he envisioned. He grew up a trader. People trusted each other. People welcomed strangers, especially traders.
    Not now. That didn’t mean Braden had to embrace the fear.
    “How do Hawkoids greet and treat members of their own family?” Braden asked. “Tell me about your family.”
    “We ru’ our ‘eaks together and ‘ow.” Skirill was intrigued that the human had asked. “Our nesties are our ‘rothers and sisters fro’ one hatching. Our click is all the nesties fro’ our ‘arents, ‘ates for li’e. I ha’e two nesties and there are thirteen in our click. My ‘arents are gone. I do not yet ha’e a ‘ate.”
    “Hawkoids mate for life. Two and thirteen.” Braden repeated back key points from a conversation in order to help him remember. His father had taught him that trick so people would like him more. It had served him well in his life. The older he got, the smarter his father was.
    “Thank you for that, Skirill.” Braden got up and leaned down to put his nose against the Hawkoids beak. Since he was bent over, there wasn’t much of a bow left, but he tried it. Skirill chuckled and bowed back. Braden didn’t know if that showed humor or joy. “And this is how humans do it.” He put his hand on the uninjured shoulder of the Hawkoid, where the muscles of the breast connected with the joint to the wing, leaned in and gave Skirill a kiss on the top of his feathered head.
    Braden pointed to G-War and himself. “I hate to break it to you, my new friend, but traveling with us, you probably won’t find a mate.” Braden turned his point into a palms up sign of submission.
    ‘It speaks for itself,’ G-War interjected.
    “Are you two linked?” When it came to G-War, Braden asked a great number of questions where he already knew the answer. If his mind was disciplined enough, would he simply know, like Skirill had been able to learn his language directly from his mind? He would have to work on that.
    Skirill bobbed his head once as he had already learned what that meant to the human. He had also gotten quite adept at shaking his head no.
    “Your little trysts don’t count, G!”
    ‘I’m a ‘cat. Has it learned nothing in the past ten cycles? Humans…’
    “You get me, don’t you Skirill?” Braden pleaded. The Hawkoid nodded, then shook his head, then nodded some more. Braden looked confused.
    “I don’t know what that means, but it appears that I’m outnumbered.”
    ‘It has always been outnumbered.’ With that, the ‘cat moved away from the fire, faced the darkness, and assumed his sleeping/watching pose.
    “Time to get some sleep Skirill. With fresh minds, we will see what the daylight brings.”

 
    16 – Grasslands
     
    The fire burned down during the night. There was no more wood and sod to burn, so they ate a cold breakfast.
    Between bites, Braden shaped a plan for them to discuss. “We can continue heading south through the prairie until we get back into a more wooded area. The horses are well fed on the prairie grasses and should be up for a nice walk, plus we need to hunt and we need water. Our supply of venison is going fast. Skirill? How are you feeling this morning?”
    The Hawkoid flexed his wing, stiffly and slowly at first, then a little more vigorously, ending with what Braden thought was a wince. “Good, ‘ut can’t ‘ly this daylight.” Braden opened a pouch with the numbweed and applied the last of it to Skirill’s wing. If