Neverwylde (The Rim of the World Book 4) Read Online Free

it. It made no move to attack, no move to retreat. Neither did it threaten them because they had interrupted its feeding.
                “What the holy fuck is that?” Fullgrath whispered.
                “It looks like a giant freaking praying mantis,” Cooter replied.
                Behind him, Kyber heard Gaveer’s question. “What is a praying mantis?”
                “Have Dox show you,” Jules replied. “But I totally agree with you on this one, Coot. How big do you think that thing is?”
                “Dunno. It’s got to be at least two meters tall, but the damn thing’s sitting down. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s four meters or taller.”
                The creature pushed away the carcass of the thing it was eating and started to rise. Everyone instantly went on the defensive, when a soft voice behind them spoke up.
                “Wait. Is that thing wearing a collar?”
                Kyber froze where he stood. In some ways he wasn’t surprised that Kelen had followed them. At the same time, he was peeved she would continue to endanger herself, despite his request she hang back with the others. But she was correct. The tiny string of glowing objects around the thing’s neck seemed vaguely familiar. He threw up a hand for everyone to halt as Massapa voiced exactly what he was also thinking.
                “That looks like an Adajuss translator.”
                “Adajuss.” The glowing objects pulsed as the creature repeated the word. “Yes. Adajuss.” The words, spoken with a strange resonance, came from the necklace it wore.
                “Kyber, what’s Adajuss?” Fullgrath asked.
                Kyber hushed the man and took a cautious step toward the creature. “Who are you? What are you called?”
                The creature’s head swiveled an impossible two hundred degrees peripherally as its eye orbs examined around it, above it, and behind it. “Hoov.”
                “Hoov. Is that your species or your name?”
                “Ganj. Hoov.”
                “How do you want us to address you?” Kelen spoke up. Kyber glanced over at where she stood beside Fullgrath and noticed the blaster she held in her hand. It was aimed forward, but clearly wasn’t directed at the creature. He was struck by the similarities in their circumstance at that moment. It reminded him of when she had come to his and his men’s defense shortly after they’d encountered each other since crash landing on this desolate world. She had coolly yet cautiously intervened back then to give each side a chance to see reasoning instead of killing indiscriminately. He had to give her credit again for stepping forward. Although this creature was obviously dangerous, the fact that it wore a translation necklace proved it had to be intelligent. More intriguing was the fact that the choker was a piece of Adajuss technology. Where had the creature obtained the piece?
                Once again, the thing turned its head at an impossible angle. “Hoov,” it finally responded. “Eat.”

Chapter 4
    Questions
     
     
                Kyber reached out with one hand and barred Kelen from advancing closer. None of the men moved from where they stood. Neither did they lower their weapons. Oddly enough, the creature didn’t appear to be disturbed by the obvious sign of hostility.
                Jules pulled out his tablet and checked it. “I don’t have any input regarding Adajuss. Who are they? Where are they from?”
                “Is this thing Adajuss?” Cooter added.
                “Adajuss is a planet in the Snee Cruss Po system, approximately forty meedurs from Seneecia,” Tojun informed them.
                “ Meedurs. That’s light years in your language, right?” Jules