Page 59 of Game on Askole

Tihar grinned, exposing a mouthful of sharp teeth.“He was drunk when he walked onto the battlefield.”

“You can’t cure stupid.”

“You are correct. He pissed himself in the first combat trial.”

“Which was?”

“Swords, fangs, and claws.”

“I gather you took pity on him and stopped his suffering?”

“I did. My father kept his head as a trophy.”

Oh ick. The fur on the bed moved, and bright orange eyes peeped out at me.“That’s not a hologram.”

“No. That is Musa.”Tihar held out his hand.“Come, Musa.”

I stared dumbfounded as Musa crawled out. She had a red foxlike face, a furry black body with bat wings, and a long serpentine tail.“Aren’t you a cutie.”

Musa preened, fluffing her fur.

“What kind of varmint is it?”

“She is a Ayetimene Draconic. Unfortunately, she has imprinted on me.”

“Aw, she thinks you’re her daddy.”

KeeKee scrambled down and perched on my left ear.“Who that?”

“Say hello to Musa.”

“Hello.”

Musa cocked her head and chirped.

I reached down to pet her.

The Draconic let out an ear-shattering roar, and flames spewed from her mouth.

“Whoa!” I jerked my hand back.

“No hurt Momma Sarah.”KeeKee shot a web ball at her.

The fire hit the web ball, and whoosh, a bonfire erupted.

The ship’s automatic fire suppression system kicked in, spraying a thick foam over the room.

“Yuck.” I wiped the gook out of my eyes. One look at Tihar, and I burst into laughter. He looked like the marshmallow man.

Tihar grabbed a mirror and held it up to me. I was coated in the sudsy stuff with only my eyes visible.

KeeKee shook herself like a dog, flinging foam in every direction. Musa launched herself into the air and spun wildly. Large flakes of foam rained down on us.

“How do we get rid of the stuff?”

Tihar tapped his gauntlet. A bright blue light rolled over the room. The suds vanished.

“Neat trick.”

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