How To Avoid Death On A Daily Basis: Book Two (19 page)

The only thing missing was a tattoo that said
Ima steal yo man
to complete the look. And I hadn’t checked her tramp stamp.

“We’re going to drop her off at the nearest village. The others are dead. Oh, and lizardmen are coming, so...”

This got their attention and we all got to packing. It didn’t take long, although it would probably have been quicker if Claire and Flossie didn’t keep stopping to glare at their partners. I’m not sure what they were worried about, both Maurice or Dudley looked at Mandy like some kind of alien lifeform. Fascinating but also very scary.

Jenny, on the other hand, took great care not to look at Mandy at all. So much tension, it was hard to breathe. Lizardmen at least let you know where you stand (usually in a pool of blood).

Once we had all our gear sorted, we went to the lake to tell the frogmen we were leaving. Mandy was understandably nervous as she watched us talk to creatures she had always seen as monsters.

“Will you be okay?” I asked Nabbo.

“We will go further into the marshes. There are more of our kind and the lizards are less likely to follow.” He looked over my shoulder towards Mandy. “I see you’ve picked out a second mate already. You’re a very surprising human.”

This conversation would have been embarrassing enough in private, but it wasn’t. He was speaking nice and loud.

“She isn’t a second mate. I don’t even have a first mate.”

“Hmm,” said Nabbo, not sounding very convinced. “She looks primed for spawning, if you ask me. And she hasn’t taken her eyes off you since you got here.” Again, very loud. “You, on the other hand, don’t look very ready at all. Are you feeling alright?”

Both Claire and Flossie were glaring at me. Honestly, it’s flattering to be thought of as some kind of stud, but come on. Me and Mandy? I’d have to tie a plank across my arse to stop myself falling in.

The marshes had become too dangerous for all sorts of reasons. We headed north towards Dargot. Perhaps this city would offer us peace and safety.

Perhaps not.

End of Book Two