Chapter one
Seg learns what frightened meStumbling around at night in a jungle alive with ravenous monsters is not a pastime to be heartily recommended. Particularly when that jungle sprawls hungrily on the horrific if beautiful world of Kregen four hundred light-years from Earth.
The fetid stench of the place choked from rotting vegetation, putrid stink-flowers, decomposing — things — of indeterminate character. The darkness pressed down as black as the armpit of a demon from hell. All I wore was a scarlet breechclout and all I carried was a longsword. Those two items have seen me through many fraught adventures in the past. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind they will see me through many more in the future.
Each step was a probing forward venture. Dagger-sharp spines, a mass of c
