Today was going to be a big day, and if he played his hand just right, he'd be alive to enjoy it too. It wasn't every day that a great Crocodile Hunt was to be thrown in honor of the Shah. And Her Eminence would actually be present too! Any event could be celebrated in her honor, but to actually have the Essence of Hakeshna here in the celebration of it was quite astonishing to behold. Even for one as cynical as he, Anran knew having the Shah's presence here was a great big deal. And that would make everyone be either on their best behavior, or their worst.
And certainly doing their best to kill the largest crocs they could find.
Croc killing. Now there was a matter that struck Anran as odd, not that he was necessarily opposed to killing them – occasionally their meat could be made into a delectable dinner and their hide into a suitable leather pouch or sword sheath. They were great river predators, obviously, but predators that otherwise bothered no one unless bothered first. Anran had no illusions as to the danger they would actually pose, whether being hunted alone or in groups; but he did know that there were many here hoping to prove their worth, who really had no idea what they were getting into. There was going to be blood, and lots of it. And maybe some stray arms in the process.
This was for the Shah, he reminded himself. And for gold, a great deal of it in fact to the chosen victor among all the participants (as far as he knew). And the honor of being in the Shah's presence was enough prize for many enough as it were. But Anran cared nothing for the honor and glory of the killing. Perhaps it was still the gladiator in him, killing enough just to survive, just enough to prove his worth, that he would not be one to stand idle. That was enough for him, even now as he sat in his tent, dressed in fine linens, thin enough to let the air coming wafting up from the Niafi River to seep through. It certainly beat the smothering desert heat.
"Ah, Harmanaija, there you are," he said, coming out of his tent when he saw a pair of feet pass by the open flap. "I was looking for you. Normally, I would do it myself, but seeing as it is your first week on the job, I thought I would give you the honor. I have my hunting spears in the Armsman's tent just across from mine and I was wondering if you could sharpen them for me. You do know how to sharpen don't you?"