Between The Crystals

Ch 92 Distant Observers

I sat on a rock and watched the morning preparations with interest as I ate a light breakfast of leftover greens. A group of hunters had removed the water jugs from the big cart and were currently loading it with whatever they thought they needed for the crocodile hunt and preliminary butchering.

After learning about my trade with a Saursune for weapons, the patriarchs did not want me anywhere near the Orange Flower crystal. Nor did they want me at a crystal that a Saursune had shown us.

They had no clue where to send me until they overheard Grant asking which hunters wanted to try croc hunting at the Jungle Sandbar. Barrett and a couple of others were currently very busy convincing the villagers that their strongest porter would be safest if she was on a sandbar and supervising the hunters' efforts to catch a croc.

It might have been a bit spiteful, but I was waiting for a villager to ask if a strip of sand surrounded by a croc-infested muddy river was really the best place for me considering I had been safe in the forest.

It annoyed me to play by their rules, but it wasn't worth the fight when most of the village agreed with their persuasion and logic. The Saursunes latest interest in trading meant I wouldn't come home empty-handed, so I was willing to bide my time and see what happened.

I was still waiting to see how long it would take Barrett to realize that hunting and butchering a few crocs wouldn't take us all day.

Liam put a large grass-woven mat into the cart and came to stand beside me. "This is going to be interesting."

I nodded. "I'm hoping the rope the Saursunes gave us is as strong as it looks, or this could be a short trip."

"I'm not sure what it's made of, but it's strong. Ten of us grabbed the ends—five on each side—and pulled on it. It didn't split or even fray, so it should let us pull a croc away from the water. We'll have to wrap the end in leather to reduce the damage from their teeth though."

"Huh. I must have missed that."

"You had just taken a group to the village, and we wanted to know how strong it was if we were going after crocs."

"Good plan. Make sure you have everything you want in the cart, 'cause I can't leave the group to fetch something when that many crocs are around."

Crocodiles were dangerous. If the person was fortunate enough to escape, any bite would need instant attention. I wasn't sure the healing salve would heal the kind of injuries crocs usually inflicted. Two of the "shells" had been given to the doctor on the quiet side. I had given the other one to Grant, although he had given it back to me for today's hunt.

"We can climb on the cart to stay out of their reach," Liam commented, as practical as ever and instantly able to spot a safe zone.

"True, although I hope we don't need it. Morning, Roxanne."

She covered a yawn as she joined us. "Good morning. Are you sure you want to take all us porters when you have to port that cart later? I can always show a few people once I know where I'm going."

Before I could tell her that I'd be fine, Grant's voice came from the side. "I like Roxanne's suggestion. Porting a huge group to four places isn't the best idea when you plan to load that cart. If the hunters' efficiency matches their excitement, you and I both know you won't have long to rest."

Why did he have to bring logic into this?

Despite how much I wanted to claim I could do both at this point, this was Grant. Just like in our games, he was always planning four or five steps ahead, and he had just pointed out that we wouldn't be there all day. I wasn't sure what he had in mind, but he was hinting at something.