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“We are not,” Freihild says in a slow, on are the best It is truth”
“Good thing you kept one of them as allies, eh?”
Freihild is amused
“My skuggi are orphans from ruins of shattered tribes,” Sefi says “They promise their spirits to their Queen Their loyalty is beyond the flesh, so their wombs are stripped, their seed i are not the best?” She motions for Freihild to step back “Not because we do not knoalk with the silent shadow, or bring the long death, but because Howlers and Gorgons are i are not They provide one solution: death Practical creatures provide i have hunted them these last weeks Six thousand they have killed for me Red Hand flees The Republic was too soft on thei to beat the Gorgons, to beat the Howlers if necessary Teach them to be…freelancers To ain allies To sow discord” She points a long finger of her gloved hand at ive us your knowledge”
If she wants a kingdom, she knows she’ll have to play dirty like all the rest
With a grunt, Valdir bursts to his feet and stalks away Sefi watches hie expression “My mate believes we are e or practice shameful arts But he is just a man Men are is”
“Won’t argue that” Then I say with narrowed eyes, “Skuggi are sacred to your people Servants of Allmother Death, yes? Valdir won’t be the only one pissed Your braves know it ht’ve been Gold that held the chain, but Gray was the chain You hate us even more than you hate them”
She makes a dismissive motion
“Your Majesty, I’ve seen berserkers rape wounded legionnaires on the battlefield as they scalp theion But those Grays were est Red est memory”
The idea of teaching the skuggi to beco my soul in a way I never considered
“That world is past Not all of the clans believe as I do They resist change But they follow strength I aer over the ri YouI kno this world works I a to make you a very rich man”
“And if I say no?”
“You are guest When safe, you will be free” Free to be tossed off a high cliff by Valdir,You will be hunted by Syndicate, Julii, Lion, Republic…Goblin You will be noman No hearth No blood No aeta No hands to carry your cold body to the sky when they find you”
“Cat’s got nothing on ot a thousand lives They can each have one Anyway, Mars is for suckers I got business on Luna”
“You speak of your woan is on Luna no longer Xenophon”