Frog Kiss (2 page)

The beasts backed away. The enormous bull stood his ground and let out a deep growl from somewhere at the bottom of his abdomen.

Keric crawled to his feet, too stunned and frightened to be much help.

Raffin faced the bull’s charge and shoved her torch at her attacker. The crocodile hissed and snapped at her, but she was quick with the end of her torch, touching the burning end to the soft tissue inside the reptilian mouth. Keric heard the sizzle of burning meat.

With a defeated roar, the bull backed away and then, in a final gesture of frustration and spite, he lashed out with his long snout and snapped up the tied sack of royal frogs. The frogs made a combined sound like someone stepping on a goose. The giant crocodile crunched down with his jaws, chomped again, then swallowed. After a satisfied grunt, the crocodile crawled out of the clearing and splashed into the water.

“I told you to be careful out in the swamps,” Raffin scolded Keric. “Do I have to watch out for you all the time?”

Keric sat stunned. “They’re all gone! In one gulp, the whole royal family!” He shook his head. “I never meant for that to happen.”

Raffin took hold of his hand and pulled him to his feet. “The kingdom will do fine without them. They weren’t particularly worth rescuing.” She stared at him, but he continued to sulk. “Hey, it was fun while it lasted.”

“No, I meant my reward. The gold, the fine clothes, the palace—”

“And what would you do with all that stuff?” She looked at him, then tugged at his old, mud-caked tunic. “Fine clothes? Are you seeking what you really want, or just what you think you’re
supposed
to want? What other people tell you to want isn’t always right for you.”

Keric lowered his head, sighed deeply. He looked at himself and realized she was right. “If I had a palace, I suppose I’d just track mud in it all the time.”

Raffin giggled. “It’s not so bad out here, you know.”

“But what about my princess?”

Raffin flicked her hair behind her shoulders and looked angry for a moment, then spoke in a very shy voice. “You could stay in the swamps.” She paused. “With me.”

Keric looked up at her and listened to the frogs and the night insects. One of these days he was going to learn to notice the things right in front of him.

***

About the Author

KEVIN J. ANDERSON has published 120 books, more than fifty of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the
Star Wars
,
X-Files
, and
Dune
universes, as well as a unique steampunk fantasy novel,
Clockwork Angels
, which is based on the new concept album by legendary rock group Rush. His original works include the
Saga of Seven Suns
series, the
Terra Incognita
fantasy trilogy, and his humorous horror series featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie PI. He has edited numerous anthologies, including the
Blood Lite
series, the
Five by Five
series, and
A Fantastic Holiday Season
. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers of WordFire Press. Wordfirepress.com.

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