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It was a sound arguree with, as the Wolf did not relish expending unnecessary effort

Ōkaht he would agree Especially when she caught a trace of humor on his face Then he swept his black hair froht "If this is the last task of your life, it’s never a waste of tihly"

A cold current of fear overshadowed Mariko’s anger "You--you don’t truly mean that If you intended to kill ht me here? To what end?" She focused the last of her fear into so pointed Sharp "And if this is indeed the last task ofelse--than this"

"You’d waste your last day in thought?" Ōka

"I would spend it thinking so honorable"

Like exposing the location of your ca about an end to your band of bloodthirsty thieves

"Thinking?" Ren interjected as he spat in the dirt by her feet "Knowledge feeds no one Nor does it win any wars"

"I find your position on thistoward the boy with the spiked topknot

"Honorable?" Ōkami shifted closer, his hand still pressed to his shoulder The coppery scent of fresh blood suffused the air "Do you consider attacking a woundedan act of honor?"

Color flooded Mariko’s cheeks She’d known she would regret that decision the moment she’d made it Honor was a fundamental tenet of bushidō And her choice to deceive Ōkae of his weakness ithout a doubt--a dishonorable one

"I"--she sed--"was pushed to that action"

"As many men often are"

"I--"

"Don’t trouble yourself by explaining Honor bears no weight with e a poison to a weak mind"

A litany of retorts collected in Mariko’s throat, but none seeh Instead she chose to defeat words with silence

With an idea

"Never doubt Never fear Never overthink" Ōka for so beyond her "That is the only way to stay alive"

A glimmer of reason shone in his words It unsettled her even further Mariko’s lips pressed together The skin in their centers cracked as the salt of her blood touched her tongue

Anger tingled across her skin Anger at hier at herself

How she wished she had a perfect retort at the ready One she could fire back, like a polished stone

Wordlessly, she bent to retrieve the fallen logs

When Mariko stood once h a lantern had been shined in his eyes

He stretched, then yawned "On second thought, take Lord Lackbeard to Yoshi," Ōka A atered tree yields sweeter fruit"

As the Wolf turned to leave, courage pushed Mariko into his path a final tiing ainst my will, I’m owed that much"

He waited, his features coolly indifferent

Mariko breathed deep "Am I prisoner, or a "We choose e are in any situation, be it a word or an idea" With a small smile, he walked away

I dislike this boy Ihts, Ren yanked her to his side Mariko watched from the corner of her eye while Ōkarey horse and rode fro the peri