Adventures on RV Traveler (Free Trader Series Book 3) by Craig Martelle

air and flew at them. They panicked and fled. Skirill chased them a short way, making sure they were gone.
    The companions had seen that look before. It was the hateful glare the Bat-Ravens had given them. The cost for an ally was another enemy.
    They knew that speed was their friend. They had to get away before the monkeys could rally. How did they know when Braden was going to come through the door? They’d been waiting. Maybe they were more intelligent than they’d been led to believe. Braden felt sick to his stomach for killing one.
    Time for the companions to run.
    Braden used the power feature of his boots to move quickly over the rough ground of the rainforest. Micah joined him. Aadi clung to the rope tied to Braden’s pack. Skirill flew back and forth in the tight confines of their path ahead. G-War ran along lower branches, leaping from tree to tree.
    They stopped when they reached the place where they had met the Lizard Man the previous turn. They waited, weapons at the ready, watching behind them to see if they were followed.
    Nothing. They had expected the Lizard Man to be waiting, but that wasn’t his plan. Braden and Micah each carried a monkey carcass as they walked forward on the path toward the next ramp. Two steps on their way, the Lizard Man appeared. He’d been standing there the whole time, blended perfectly into a tree.
    “Two monkeys,” Braden said and they held them up. The Lizard Man looked at them, unmoving.
    “I am Free Trader Braden. We had a fair trade. We are delivering our half of the bargain. We’ll need you to do the same.”
    They looked at each other for what seemed an eternity. Then other Lizard Men materialized from the rainforest. One, larger than the first, walked close and bowed as he stopped.
    ‘I am Pik Ha’ar, Commander of the Lizard Force. We applaud your cunning in being able to bring down not one but two of these foul creatures. If we could, we would eradicate them from our land. Maybe you can show us how?’
    Braden nodded to Aadi. The Tortoid had more insight into the inner thoughts of the Lizard Men. Braden found it repulsive thinking about killing all the monkeys.
    ‘Pik Ha’ar, I am Aadi, First Master of the Tortoise Consortium. My compliments to you.’ Aadi paused as he bowed his head. ‘We are simple travelers, passing through to the next deck. We appreciate your courtesy in allowing us through your land.’
    ‘The next deck? If you can get to the next deck, you are not simple travelers. You carry weapons of the caretakers,’ the Commander said.
    ‘We carried these weapons the last time we were here. The bargain was struck then. I would ask again that you fill your part of our agreement,’ Braden interjected.
    ‘Yes. Our agreement. That was made by Tup Lar. He has been appropriately punished for leading you astray.’
    Braden was furious. He grit his teeth as he tightened his grip on his blaster. Micah had her blaster loose in its holster. Eradicate was the term they used. She wondered how they’d like to be on the receiving end of that.
    Aadi swam forward slowly. ‘Pik Ha’ar. We are happy to make your acquaintance. Tup Lar’s trade was a good agreement. We cannot agree more. They are foul creatures. You can smell their stench on the human from here, can you not?’ Aadi moved closer. Skirill watched from a nearby branch. Two Lizard Men moved below, but their spears couldn’t reach him. G-War sat on another branch, close to Braden and Micah, within two bounds of the Lizard Force Commander. The ‘cat was confident he could kill him if he needed to. He patiently awaited the outcome of Aadi’s negotiations.
    The Lizard Man nodded and grinned. Their facial expressions were more human than their Amazonian cousins.
    ‘Maybe we can help you with your monkey problems, but we need assurance that when we make a deal, both sides comply. It is the law of the trade – negotiate, agree, deliver.’ Braden smiled, happy that Aadi remembered.
    ‘Throw the