"I do not trust him," Kayden thought. "Ketem is known for wars. He starts them. He funds them. He profits from them. And when the fighting is over, he walks away clean while others bury their dead."
Kayden's hand tightened around his cup. The fermented sap trembled.
"He is not here to help me. He is here to use me. To use my people. To use the wolves' hostility as an excuse to spread his influence."
"But I have no choice. I need his ships. His weapons, his gold."
For now.
"You are staring," Kayden said, signalling to Ketem to respect his boundaries. Aliens had not lived much among humans to know boundaries but Ketem was well travelled. He should know.
"I am admiring," Ketem replied. "Your skin. It glows like a human's own. A healthy human."
Kayden set down his cup. "My skin is none of your concern."
"Everything about you is my concern. We are allies, partners and brothers in trade."
