Page 51 of Ren: Warlord Brides
Dovak’s bored expression barely wavered, but Ren saw how his nostrils flared.
Not so impassive after all.
“Really? Well, I’m afraid I have my trade secrets and you won’t rouse my anger so easily with lazy insults.”
“I think it was a rather good insult, on the fact that I, an anomalously small warrior, defeated you.”
“I let you win.”
“At the start, yes, but battle lust is a hard song to resist, is it not? There is joy in a good fight, pushing yourself, and outwitting your challenger. We were made for it.”
“I was made for a different purpose,” Dovak said, his voice growing hard.
Ren’s words rattled the male. Good. Dovak deserved to be rattled, and Ren would happily provide that service.
“Mmm, perhaps. We were designed to be perfect, obedient killing machines. Individually, we excel in different areas. Mechanics,” he said, pointing to himself. “General asshattery,” he said, pointing to Dovak. “But we are all made for the fight, made for battle. And the battle lust caught you. I saw the spark ignite in your eyes, the moment you went from pretending to be this pompous fool of a male to being the warrior you were made to be. You tried, you really did, to draw blood and break my bones.”
“I did! You bled.”
“Trying as hard as you could, you still lost to a defective male. The runt. The one who doesn’teven look like a Mahdfel.” He imitated Dovak’s accent, twisting it into a mocking tone.
Ren walked the room, picking up items and inspecting them. The ship appeared to be nothing more than private transportation, but he suspected that underneath, he’d find military-grade bones.
“On Rolusdreus, our ecosystem is a delicate balance.”
“Another story? Goodie.”
“It is a harsh climate. Many were forced to adapt or go extinct. This applies to the people as well as the animals and plants. But I am thinking of bacteria.”
“I do not have time for stories about radioactive bacteria.” Dovak moved toward the helm.
Ren grabbed him by the shoulder and steered him to a chair. He loomed over Dovak. “Sit. This will not take long. This bacterium is often found in an oasis or water hole. It is flesh-eating and brings death to anything that ingests it. Except for the water lizard.”
“Such a unique name. Let me hazard a guess and say that it lives in these water holes.”
“Yes. They mostly consume algae and insects.”
“And bacteria?”
“Huge clumps of it. The bacterium grows in the algae, the water lizards consume the algae, they develop necrotic flesh, and shed their scales.”
“Delightful.”
“And the needlebeeks eat the necrotic flesh. Every water lizard has a needlebeek. They have a partnership.” Ren laced his fingers together.
“Circle of life. How inspiring. I have a ship to catch.” Dovak tried to stand, but Ren pushed him back down again.
“The water lizard’s scales grow back thicker and more durable. The plague that killed so many makes them stronger. Can you see the point of the story now?”
“You’re the water lizard. Tougher. Stronger.”
“And you are the needlebeek, pecking away at what you think are my wounds. Peck. Peck. Peck.” Ren jabbed a finger into the male’s chest to emphasize each word. “Call me a runt. Call me a weakling and an outcast. Know that I have had a lifetime of needlebeeks pecking away and they have made me stronger than your spiteful.”
Jab.
“Little.”
Jab.
