Wulf (The Fifth Place #1)

by Set Sytes

‘Tell me, Dol Sander,’ Jay started, slowly, as Khyber waded through thick grasses, the stalks brushing against his boots. ‘When referring to you, should I say him or her? Do you prefer to be . . . noted a male or a female?’ ‘I am neither,’ Dol Sander said, brushing the grasses aside with his hand. They seemed to part gracefully with every step, not a stalk broken. ‘The common languages are needlessly complex, and so lacking. To the Duna it appears somewhat . . . childish. Though it does not matter. Say whichever makes you most comfortable. Usually people talk of me as a man. Though not always, not among all people, all cultures.’ ‘But you must have a preference?’ Dol Sander looked at Jay with abyssal eyes. Each white moon floating on an ocean of night. ‘My preference is for people to use what they wish, what comes most naturally and easily to them. I care not.’ ‘Does it not ever offend you?’ ‘I do not get offended,’ Dol Sander said. ‘No such word exists in the Duna language. The concept is foreign to us. We learned it only from other races. It seems a truly wasteful idea.’ ‘I see. I can’t help but think of you as a man.’ ‘As you say. You cannot help but.’ ‘I’ll continue then, until you tell me otherwise.’ ‘As you wish,’ Dol Sander said, disinterested. ‘You other races do make such a fuss.’