“If you listen to me, we can get you far more,” Lucas said, looking over at Bonnie. “Bonnie, why don’t you cut off another one of his limbs.”

“But”—Bonnie looked down at the guy—“I don’t think he has the hit points to survive another leg falling off. He’s barely alive as is.”

“Ah, that’s a good point,” Lucas admitted sadly.

“We could always use the other Dwarf,” Nick offered.

“No! Don’t you even think about it!” Gunter protested. “I didn’t do what they did. I didn’t ruin no girl like they did. I’m innocent! Don’t start chopping me up the same as him!

“Or . . . just heal Jason until his right leg returns and then saw it off again,” Lucas suggested.

Jason’s face was already pale from horror and blood loss, but he still managed to turn a shade whiter when he heard Lucas’s words.

“On it, boss.” Nick pulled out his healing mace and began casting the spell on Jason. The Dwarf’s leg grew back bit by bit, and Bonnie made sure to hold onto it firmly so that he couldn’t escape as his vitality returned.

A minute or two later, the spider was once more feasting on fresh Dwarf flesh, happily devouring Jason’s second right leg. After she finished, she looked up at Lucas again, simply repeating the phrase she had earlier. “More . . .”

“I can’t do that this time,” Lucas continued. “I know you want more food, and I know you’re hungry, but unless you agree to my terms”—he glanced back at Jason—“I think I’m going to have to cut you up instead. You can either consent to my request, or I will feed you to the Dwarf whose arm you just ate piece by piece. I’ll heal you back just like I did him so that you can watch as he eats you, all day, every day, one piece at a time, until he is twice your size.”

The spider backed up a step. “No, Human.” It wiggled its torso back and forth as if it were shaking its head. “You can’t, Human.”

“If I can chop him up,” Lucas said, gesturing at the Dwarf, “then what’s to say I can’t chop you up? What’s to say I won’t? You’re currently only alive because I am letting you live, and I’m only letting you live because you’re going to be useful to me.”

“But . . . there will be more food?” Saba'a quickly shifted the topic back to gains, absolutely ignoring the overly-dramatic, villainous flare that Lucas was going for.

“Yes, two meals, at the very least. If you listen to what I say and work hard, there will be many more to come,” Lucas promised.

Saba'a turned her whole body, staring directly at Jason. “Fine,” she acquiesced. “I don’t care what you’re demanding. Just keep the food coming.”

“In that case,” Lucas replied, looking over at Nick, “feed Gunter to the spider.”