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'orpelek's gaze.

Mace allowed his lip to curl with a hint of contempt.

Nick whispered, "What are you doing?"

Mace's gaze never wavered. "Nothing you need concern yourself with."

"Urn, maybe I should have told you," the young Korun muttered nervously.

"Kar doesn't like to be stared at."

"I know."

"It gets him mad."

"He's already mad."

"Yeah. And you're makin' him madder."

"That's my intention."

"Y'know," Nick said, "I'm gonna give up asking if you're crazy. Let's consider it a standing question, huh? Every time you open your mouth, go ahead and assume I'm wondering if nikkle nuts have started falling out your earholes. 'Good morning, Nick.' Are you crazy? 'Nice day, isn't it?'

Are you crazy?"

Mace hissed from the side of his mouth, "Will you be quiet?"

"Are you crazy?" Nick ducked his head. "Sorry. Just a reflex."

Vastor's jaw worked, and a wordless growl escaped from his tight-drawn lips.

You were sent for.

Mace sighed, looking bored.

Vastor's growl thickened.

Defiance carries a price.

Nick cocked his head, frowning. "This isn't about the prisoners?"

Mace looked at him sidelong: Nick had understood. So Vaster was talking to both of them-or rather, to Mace, but at least partially for the benefit of Nick. He glanced up at the howdah.

Likely for the benefit of Depa as well.

"Of course it's about the prisoners," Mace said softly. "He's just warming up. Play along."

Mace hooked his thumbs in his belt and walked casually forward. "I told you already: I am not to be sent for. Since you have brought her to me as ordered, I'll see her now."

The shimmer around Vaster deepened, but he held himself perfectly still.

His growl sharpened into a vine cat's hunting cough.,' don't take orders.

Depa is here at her own request.

"Oh?"

She came to say good-bye.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Vastor's response was a silent grinning gape that showed all his inhumanly sharp teeth. He gestured, and the ring of akks and humans parted before him.

"I told you he's gonna kill us!" Nick hissed. "I toldyo't'ti't't Shee, I hate it when I'm right!"

"Like I said before: think of Vaster as a wild akk. He won't kill us unless there's no other way to get what he wants."

"Yeah? What does he want?"

"Same as any akk dog: to assert his dominance. Defend his territory. And his pack."

"And you think he won't kill us for taking those prisoners?"

Mace shrugged. "Not you, anyway. You're subordinate: you don't really count."

"Oh, sure. Thanks a lot-" Nick stopped in mid-sarcasm and looked thoughtful. "Know what? I think I actually mean that."

"You're welcome."

Vaster spun the hooked goad, and the ankkox lumbered toward Mace and Nick, its tail mace whipping through threatening arcs around it.

"So, what?" Nick kept on under his breath. "You think he's just gonna throw you out of here? 'You got till sundown to get off my planet'?"

"Something like that."

"What about this hostage you were talkin' about?"

"We'll see if we need him."

"Urn, it's not me, is it? Because, y'know, to tell you the truth, I don't think Depa likes me all that much-or even, y'know, any. At all."

"Hush."

The ankkox stopped. The beak-curve of the crown armor on its landspeeder-sized skull lowered to the ground at Mace's feet. The beast's eyes were orange and gold and as large as Mace's head, and they peered up from under the curve of armor with melancholy saurian patience.

Vaster vaulted to the ground. Make your good-byes. Then you are leaving.

"Nice doggy..." Nick said with a sickly forced smile. He gave a weak laugh. "Nice-"

Vastor's immense left arm flashed at Nick in a blinding palm slap that would have taken his head right off before he could even blink-but that massive arm was intercepted by the heel of Mace's open hand.

Mace's fingers locked momentarily around Vastor's wrist. "He's with me,"

he said, and before the lor pelek could react, he released Vaster and backhanded Nick off his feet.

Nick lay crumpled on