The creature was silent for a long moment, clearly assessing whether Jorghan was bluffing. Whatever it saw in his expression convinced it.
"Release me. I will guide you. But understand—if you attack my pack, the faery dies first. That's protocol. Valuable specimens are eliminated rather than allowed to be rescued without payment."
"Then we won't attack," Jorghan said.
He lowered the creature carefully, the trees unwrapping from its body but remaining ready to restrain it again if necessary.
"Lead the way. And pray to whatever gods your species acknowledges that Kleela is genuinely unharmed, because if she's been hurt, protocol won't save you."
The creature was thinking that they could take Jorghan and Nami too and sell them off to space pirates, fetching them a good price.
*
