Psider wasn’t impressed.

  “You called me out here to meet with dignitaries!” The Kharm threw his hands up, then turned on the soldier. “You TOLD me that it was important!”

  The guard had over a foot on the other man, yet he took a step back. “I was just following orders.”

  The sharkman spun towards the captain. “If we’re not in there making sure these freaks die here, then even more of your soldiers are going to die.” He ground his teeth, then spat out a tooth. “I don’t have time to shake hands with politicians. I’m a Ranger, not an Ambassador!”

  “Wayfayer Psider.” Starna’s voice froze the other man. “Queen Banrion Sundine has told my father of your exploits during the Great War. I’m aware of where your talents lie, and I assure you, this is no political meeting.” She gestured at me. “This is Sectum Malus, a Singiver. I believe you fought alongside his ancestor?”

  The other soldier moved farther away from me while the Kharm’s eyes got wide. He walked up to Starna and reached for her hand. Psider stopped once he almost touched her and waited for her to put her palm in his.

  Starna took off her glove and took out a small knife and nicked the tip of her index finger, then placed her palm in the sharkman’s outstretched hand. He brought her hand to his lips and touched his sandpaper tongue against the drop of blue blood. His reaction was instant as he dropped to a knee and bowed.

  “Vivo servire.” The words were barely more than a whisper.

  “I’m just an ambassador.” Starna took her hand away. “You are the Ranger. Tell me. Can my men assist you?”

  Psider stayed in the kneeling position but looked over at the captain. “If we’ve got a Sineater, then we can take the tunnels.”

  Captain Lurk didn’t look convinced. “They have diamond-bladed weapons. Even if he is a singiver, how much healing can-”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “He resurrected Queen Alessa.” Starna cut him off. “Sectum is the strongest Sineater in the world.”

  I took in their awe, fear, and questions as I waved my hands. “To clarify, that was only possible because she was my cousin, and I had to drain another Sineater to do it.” What I’d done was a lot more complicated than that simplified version, and I didn’t understand all of it, but what I did know was that their next question was going to be to ask if I could resurrect their fallen comrades.

  “I can’t bring back the dead, but I can keep people alive.” I looked at the captain. “And as much as we’d like to help, we do have important business with Ambassador Krav…”

  “I’m supposed to meet with Master Krav once I clear out the last of the squid lovers and secure the gates.” Psider glanced over us. “I don’t suppose one of you is an Earth Elementalist?”

  While magic powers would be limited around the Camadt, Elementalist abilities weren’t. So while a mage wouldn’t be able to rebuild the gates, an Earth Elementalist could fix them back up seamlessly, provided they were powerful enough and had enough time.

  “Aren’t you a Venesero?” Starna raised an eyebrow.

  “I am, but if I’m out here fixing the walls, who is going to be in the tunnels making sure that they don’t collapse on your men?” The Kharm shifted but stayed on his knees.

  “You need to stand; it’s making me uncomfortable.” Starna motioned for the beige-skinned sharkman to stand up.

  “We can focus on fixing the walls since the shorter people can fit in the tunnels easier.” Captain Lurk smiled. “That way my soldiers won’t get in the way.”

  “No, we can’t—.”

  “I will be fine.” Starna cut the Ranger off again. “Vincent can stay up here and help rebuild the walls with the other Camadt.” She held up her finger to silence his protest. “You can ask around about that other thing while you're working, and this way we’ll know that Nipper and the others are being taken care of properly.”

  Vin’s shoulders slumped. “Fine.”

  Starna looked at the Kharm that was now standing in front of her. “Will the three of us be enough to handle what’s left of the cultists?”

  “No.” Psider’s response didn’t require thought. “But you don’t look like I can talk you out of it.” He turned to me. “I hope you’re as good as she thinks you are.”

  “Me too.” While I was confident in my abilities, I didn’t want Psider to act recklessly and force me to cripple myself to save him. “Me too.”

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