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My niece grins up at ot lost on the way to the shuttle Is this New Sparta?”

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Stowing away,” she says “Can I stand or are you going to shoot me?” She looks in annoyance at Alexandar’s rifle Unlike Sevro, he still points it at her She stands

Sevro chuckles “Got so iron balls on you, don’t ya?”

“That’s the general idea”

“I gave you an order,” I say, trying to calm myself down as Thraxa joins us

“Yeah You can putif you want, but I think the cells are all filled up Or you can let me do my job If Sir Pukealot here can have your back, so can I” Alexandar glowers in embarrassment “By my count we’re teeks in No way to turn back now, Uncle You’re stuck with ht

“You think this is about me?” I ask “You just broke your father’s heart”

Her jaw tightens “It’s et to—”

“Alexandar Shoot the dumbass,” Sevro says

Alexandar grins “With pleasure”

Her eyes widen “No, not him Anyone but—”

Alexandar grins and fires his spider poison round into her thigh She spins down, grunting in pain Her fingers curl as the paralytic spreads “Ouch”

“Leave her,” Sevro says when Thraxa tries to pick her up “You’ll be able to ht, shithead Clean up your filth and find a bunk To with ht” He bends down “You sad because you ain’t with a Drachenjäger squad? A mechman? Please, we eat those little bitches for breakfast You’re lucky to be in our glorious presence” He leans in even closer “You want respect? Earn it”

“The nerve of her,” I mutter as we head out into the hallway