Unleashed Legends: Blood in the Water by Aeryn Rudel

Author:Aeryn Rudel
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Skull Island eXpeditions
Published: 2015-03-12T07:00:00+00:00

The stink from the bait they’d set out—rotting fish from the chum bucket and the contents of three full crayfish traps—was nearly enough to overpower the briny stench of the marsh itself. The smell didn’t overly bother Alten. When you’ve been halfway down the gullet of a dire troll and survived, you become somewhat inured to strong odors.

He stood on Lurk and Longchops’ raft, which had been pulled up onto the narrow isthmus to give him a stable firing platform. He held Jenny in both hands, her breech loaded with one of his special cartridges—a little extra powder and a Rhulic-forged hardened steel bullet.

Alten couldn’t see his “partners,” which was just as they’d planned it. Both Lurk and Longchops were submerged nearby, the gatorman behind him, ready with his own rifle should Alten miss—or get eaten before he could take a shot. Lurk was in the waterway in front of him and would alert Alten when the dracodile was near. To his surprise, the bog trog was some kind of marsh mystic and had access to obfuscating magic that might keep Alten alive long enough to make his shot. He had his doubts about the bog trog’s motivations, though. Longchops, despite being an eight-foot-tall scaled killing machine, was a fairly agreeable sort—for a gatorman, anyway. Lurk, on the other hand, seemed slippery and conniving, and it was apparent he was none too thrilled to be sharing his kill with Alten.

He reached into a pocket in his coat and pulled out a cigar. Might as well smoke it now, he thought. Could be my last. How many times had he said that to himself? How many hunts and mercenary contracts had put him in a position to enjoy what could be his last meal, last drink, or last good night’s sleep? He chuckled and popped a match, cradling Jenny in one arm, and lit his cigar. That was part of the appeal, really. When death was around every corner, it made everything, even the little inconsequential experiences, that much better, that much more meaningful.

Alten took a long pull on his cigar and slowly exhaled a plume of silver smoke. It was good to be alive—even for just a little while longer.

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