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“It was touch and go there for a ood friend, but you did it” Red a soccer match “I’ll admit that I had my doubts”

“You shouldn’t doubt me Your father never did”

“My father’s dead now so that doesn’t hed heartily I noticed that his soldiers weren’t s

“Have you consolidated power?”

“Oh, yes, I tossed out the old guard My father’s advisors weren’t happy about his untisters, but these things happen in our line of work” He winked absurdly and drank down his glass “Soo quietly, but any that were disloyal are now dealt with”

Which e

“Good You don’t have time for a protracted ascendency I had hoped that you had plans in place before taking over”

“Plans, don’t worry about plans I grew up in the Orchard house They all know I’rinned back at his men

Neither of them smiled

Not that he noticed He looked back at Kaspar, his cheeks pink and healthy, and raised his refilled glass

“To our little deal”

“To our war” Kaspar toasted him and drank

I cleared my throat “What war?”

Both s and tap dance

“Kaspar, why do you insist on letting the dogs sit at the table?” Redreatest joke ever

But fear jolted through me as Kaspar slowly looked at him

“Penny will be ain, I’ll cut out your tongue, Redmond”

“Oh, lighten up She’s only soh, I’ll admit it, and she must be a nice—”

Kaspar slalass into Redmond’s face

Redmond’s soldiers reacted fast, to their credit Their raised their weapons and began shouting as Redlass were e with the thick red wine Kaspar’s men threatened Redmond’s and the room exploded in shouts

“Enough,” Redod damn it”

Kaspar sat uns pointed at his face

Slowly, Redlass fro like he’d read a particularly sad scene in a book

“Last warning,” Kaspar said