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Brazell lowered his fork, his face taut His eyes held lightning I was the target, and like a rabbit caught in the open, I was too frightened to an

"Late," Valek finished for hiht altercation," he said He pulledI flushed, stifling a strong desire to bolt fro officers, I recognized the Generals only by the colors on their uniforeon was the first ti the first ten years I had lived in Brazell’s orphanage, I had only caught brief glimpses of him and his faht of Brazell and his son Reyad becahtmare I had been flattered by the attention of ray hair and short beard framed a square-shaped, pleasant face that shouted respectability Stout and sturdy, he was the ultiure to me Brazell told me I was the smartest of his "adopted" children and that he needed reed to participate

The rateful and naive I had been sickened o I had been a puppy A puppy still wagging her tail as the bag’s opening was tied shut

Two years I had suffered My mind recoiled from the memories I stared at Brazell in the war rooht to contain his hatred Faint with fatigue, I saw Reyad’s ghost appear behind his father Reyad’s slashed throat hung open, and blood dripped down, staining his nightshirt A distant recollection of a tale abouttheir killers until their business was settled filtered through host? If so, they hid it well My gaze slid to Valek Was he haunted by ghosts? If that old story was to be believed, he would be swaht not be cohI was sorry for was not having the courage to kill Brazell when I had the chance Sorry that I was unable to savesixteen Sorry that I was unable to warn May and Carra, and help theht my attention back to the war rooent parent "How many dead?"

"None I couldn’t justify the disposal of soldiersGeneral Brazell’s orders to hunt down and kill our new food taster Besides, they weren’t very s theht not have found out about the incident"

The Co to Brazell

It was all Brazell needed Leaping from his chair, he shouted, "She should be dead! I want her dead! She killed my son!"

Valek said, "But the Code of Behavior…"

"Damn the Code I’m a General She killed a General’s son and here she is…" Eers twitched as if he wanted to wrap his hands around host floated behind his father, a smirk on his face

"It’s a dishonor to me that she lives," Brazell said "An insult Train another prisoner I want her dead!"

Instinctively, I stepped behind Valek The other Generals were nodding their heads in agreement I was too terrified to look at the Cou his voice

"You have never deviated froued "Start now and you’ll begin a trend Besides, you’ll be killing the brightest food taster we’ve ever had She’s alestured to the tray of cold food beside the Colanced around Valek to see the Cohtful, he pursed his lips while he considered Valek’s arguernails deep into e of heart, took a step toward the Commander "She’s s to listen to this upstart, conniving, sneaky thief--" Brazell stopped He had said too much He had insulted Valek, and even I knew that the Commander had a special fondness for Valek

"Brazell, leave my food taster alone"

My breath hissed with relief

Brazell atteue, but the Commander silenced him "It’s an order Go ahead and build your new factory Consider your perled a carrot in front of Brazell Was a new factory worth more than my death?

Silence followed as everyone waited for Brazell to corinned, and I guessed froot-the-rat smile that the permit approval was very important to Brazell More ination over enuine, but he could build his factory now, and then kill me later He knehere to findanother word The ahosthis father

When the other Generals started to protest the peruotten, I studied the two Generals Their uniforms were similar to the Coold buttons Instead of real diamonds on their collars, each General had five embroidered diamonds stitched on their coats over their left brsts No medals or ribbons decorated their unifornition and for battle