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“What if we…acquired their ships?” Thraxa asks, looking to Screwface “Get a teahts”
His eyes go wide and he whistles “I wouldn’t volunteer personally…they’re blasting anything that coon have response tea with a net”
“She knows me too well for that to work this time,”
I say to Screw’s nod of agree, it would likely be a trap The noose is tightening If we s”
I intended to move the ships in the storm cover, under the veil of electronic interference, to prepare some devilry for Atalantia But the level of storm Orion summoned made that impossible, and even killed four of our torchShips Now all my cards are used up They know it I know it And I have the sneaking suspicion Atalantia knows it There are no tricks left to play “We are in a cage,” I say “All that can deliver us is the Sovereign And I believe she will”
“You believe?” Thraxa says “She won’t move the Senate The Vox will sacrifice us Dancer will let us die to get back at you for the Sons on the Ri”
Sadly, Harnassus agrees “I know Dancer He’ll wear diamonds before he risks Atalantia’s trap, not after that false peace He’s prouder than he thinks I know neither of you want to hear it, but after that battle we’re not an army anymore We’re just bait on a hook All’s left to do is remove the bait”
“Surrender?” Thraxa asks in horror
Harnassus’s lips barely move “Perhaps”
“If we surrender, they will kill all of us,” Thraxa says
“Worse,” Screw says “I would know I’ve watched her play with Howlers” He blinks and covers his unease with a sull that lands on the balcony outside
“They would torture and kill us four,” Harnassus agrees “But they will need labor to rebuild after this Not all of the men will survive, but some will Some is better than none” He meets my eyes “At least tell me you will consider it”
I lean back in my chair as Thraxa and Screwface hold their breath “Harnassus, in order for me to consider that, I would have to continue to make the same mistake that put us here: doubt my wife I have done that before, to the detri shortcuts, as Sevro said “And I would have to make a mistake I have notslavery is better than death I will not do that”
Thraxa nods The tension releases from Screw He’s afraid of Atalantia More afraid than he’ll ever adrees
“I was ready to sacrifice this army to break theirs, because I did not believe the Republic would coive the Republic the best hope in this war In that moment of choice, I listened to you, Harnassus If we save this army, it will be a victory to inspire the worlds