Alternative Life
Page 30
Following-ithe-iprompt-inext-ito-ithe-iwheel,-iJames-ireached-iout-iand-igrabbed-ionto-ithe-iwheel,-iwhich-ifelt-isurprisingly-isolid,-iand-igave-iit-ia-ihard-ispin.-iIt-iwhirred-iinto-ia-irainbow-colored-iblur-iwith-ia-irapid-iclicking-isound.-iIt-ispun-ifor-ia-isolid-i20-iseconds-ibefore-iit-ibegan-ito-islow,-ithe-iclicks-icoming-ifurther-iand-ifurther-iapart-iuntil-ithe-idisk-ifinally-iclicked-ito-ia-ihalt.
There,-iright-iin-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-itiny-iblack-isliver,-istood-ithe-iwheel's-iselector-ineedle.
Before-iJames-icould-ieven-iprocess-iif-ithis-iwas-ia-igood-ithing-ior-ia-ibad-ithing,-ithe-iWheel-idisappeared-iwith-ia-iblast-iof-iconfetti-iand-ia-iblast-iof-itrumpets,-iand-iwas-ireplaced-iby-ia-ismall,-ifloating-iblack-ibox-ithat-ihovered-iin-islow,-irhythmic-icircles-iabove-ithe-ipalm-iof-ithe-iTerminal-ipedestal.
Curious,-ihe-iwalked-iover-iand-ireached-iout-ifor-ithe-ismall-ibox,-iwhich-idropped-igently-iinto-ihis-ihands-ias-ihe-idid-iso.-iThe-ibox-ishook-isoftly,-ibefore-iit-ipopped-iout-iwith-ia-ismall-ifanfare-iand-ia-ijet-iof-icolored-ilight.
There,-iin-ithe-ibottom-iof-ithe-ibox,-iwere-itwo-irolled-iup-ipieces-iof-iparchment.The-ifirst,-iwhen-iunfurled,-iindicated-iit-iwas-ia-ifree-iticket-ifor-ifor-ithe-iSilver-iLottery.-iThe-isecond-ione,-isomehow-ieven-ibetter-ithan-ithe-ifirst,-iwas-ia-iticket-ifor-ia-ifree-irandom-i10-ipoint-iAttribute-iincrease-ithrough-ithe-iTerminal.
James's-ijaw-idropped.-iWell.-iTHAT-iwas-ilucky.
Feeling-iflush-ifrom-ihis-isudden-iunexpected-iluck,-ihe-iimmediately-irushed-ito-ithe-ilottery-iscreen-iagain-iand-ispent-ithe-iSilver-iticket.-iA-iwheel-isimilar-ito-ithe-ifirst-ipopped-iup,-iand-iJames-ieagerly-igrabbed-ithe-iwheel-iand-igave-iit-ia-ihard-ispin.-iTo-ihis-idisappointment,-ihowever,-iit-ilanded-ion-ione-iof-ithe-istandard-imagic-iitem-iprizes.-iThe-iwheel-ivanished,-ileaving-ia-ismall-isilver-icube-iresting-iin-ithe-ipalm-iof-ithe-iTerminal-ipedestal.
Puzzled-iand-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-ideflated,-ihe-ipicked-ithe-ismall-iitem-iup,-iand-iopened-ithe-iInventory-iManagement-ifunction-ito-iexamine-iit.-iThe-imenu-idisplay-itold-ihim-iit-iwas-ian-i[Arrow-iMagnet].-iApparently-iif-ihe-ithrew-iout-ion-ithe-iground-inext-ito-ihim,-iit-iwould-iattract-iall-iarrows-iand-iother-imissile-iprojectiles-ifired-iin-ihis-idirection-iuntil-iit-iwas-idestroyed-ior-ia-iminute-ielapsed,-iwhichever-icame-ifirst.
It-iwas-idefinitely-iuseful,-iif-ia-ibit-isituational,-ihe-ithought.-iHe-ishrugged-iand-iput-ithe-icube-iinto-ione-iof-ithe-ileather-ipouches-ion-ihis-ibelt.-iIt-icould-icertainly-iget-ihim-iout-iof-ia-ipinch-iin-ithe-iright-isituation.-i
###-iChapter-i129-i--iPreparing-iFor-iDeparture-i(part-i7)
Unrolling-ithe-iRandom-iAttribute-iBoost-iticket,-ihe-iexamined-iit-icloser.-iAccording-ito-ithe-iscript-ion-ithe-iticket,-ithe-iboost-iwould-ibe-iinstant-iand-ipermanent,-iand-inot-icount-ias-ipart-iof-ithe-i100-ipoint-ipurchase-ilimit-iin-ithe-iTerminal.
As-istrange-ias-iit-iseemed,-ihis-ifirst-iinstinct-iat-ithis-ipoint-iwasn't-ito-iuse-iit,-ibut-ito-iinstead-isell-iit-ifor-igold-ifor-imore-iequipment-iand-iitems.-iSomething-ilike-ithis-ihad-ito-ibe-iworth-ia-ibig-istack-iof-igold,-iand-iwhen-ihe-ithought-iabout-iit,-ithere-iwas-ionly-ireally-iabout-ia-i50%-ichance-iof-ihim-igetting-ia-iboost-iin-ian-iAttribute-ithat-iwould-ibe-ieven-islightly-ihelpful-iin-ithe-iupcoming-iconfrontation.-iAbilities-iand-iitems,-ihowever,-iwould-ialways-ibe-iuseful.
To-ihis-imild-idisappointment,-ihowever,-ion-ithe-iback-iof-ithe-iticket-iin-ismall-igolden-iscript-inear-ithe-ibottom-iit-iinformed-ihim-ithat-iit-i"has-ino-igold-ivalue-iand-iis-inot-ifor-iresale".
So-imuch-ifor-ithat,-ithen.-iGuess-ihe'd-ibetter-ihope-ihis-iluck-iwould-ihold.
With-ia-icommand,-ihe-ispent-ithe-iAttribute-iBoost-iTicket-iand-iwatched-ias-ihis-iStatus-imenu-ipopped-iup.-iTo-ihis-idisappointment,-ihis-iPersona-iAttribute-ijumped-i10-ipoints,-ifunctionally-idoubling-iits-ivalue.-iHe-ishould-ibe-igrateful-ifor-ibeing-iable-ito-iget-ihis-ihands-ion-isomething-ithis-iuseful-iand-irare,-ibut-iunless-ihe-isuddenly-ihad-ia-iway-iof-italking-ithe-ignolls-iinto-ijust-igiving-iup-iout-iof-inowhere,-ihe-iwasn't-ireally-isure-ihow-ihaving-ia-ihigher-iPersona-iwas-igoing-ito-ihelp-ihim-iright-inow.
Who-iknows?-iMaybe-iit-ihad-isome-iother-ibenefits-ithat-iweren't-iobvious-ito-ihim.-iFrumpkin-ihad-isaid-ithat-ithe-ichanges-iwould-ibe-imost-idramatic-iat-ilower-ivalues,-iso-imaybe-ihe'd-ijust-igained-isome-inew-ilatent-iabilities-ihe-iwasn't-iaware-iof.-iNot-ilikely.-iBut-ihe-icould-ihope,-iright?
He-iclosed-iout-iof-ithe-iTerminal,-iand-iwith-ianother-iblow-iof-ithe-igolden-iwhistle,-ifelt-ihimself-ifolded-iinside-iout-iagain-ibefore-ihe-ipopped-iback-iinto-ireality-iin-ithe-iwoods-isome-idistance-ioutside-ithe-icamp.-iTo-ihis-isurprise,-iit-iwas-ialready-iheading-itowards-ievening-ifrom-ithe-ilook-iof-ithings.-iHad-ihe-ireally-ibeen-igone-ithat-ilong?-iFrom-ihis-iperception,-ihe'd-ionly-ibeen-igone-iabout-i30-iminutes,-iif-ithat.-iMaybe-itime-iflowed-idifferently-ibetween-ithe-idimensions?-iIf-ithat-iwas-ithe-icase,-ihe-iwould-ineed-ito-ikeep-ithat-iin-imind.-iIt-iwould-ibe-ivery-imuch-iof-ia-iproblem-iif-ihe-iexpected-ito-ibe-iback-iin-ia-ifew-iminutes,-ionly-ito-ireturn-ihours-ilater.
It-itook-ihim-ia-imoment-ito-iget-ihis-ibearings.-iOnce-ihe-ifigured-iout-iwhere-ihe-iwas,-ihe-iset-ioff-itowards-ithe-icamp.-iWhen-ihe-iarrived,-iwhole-iarea-iwas-ialive-iwith-iactivity.-iSeveral-imakeshift-ismithies-ihad-ibeen-iset-iup-ito-ione-iside-iof-ithe-iclearing,-iand-iseveral-ismiths-ipounded-iaway-iat-ivarious-iweapons-iand-ipieces-iof-iarmor,-iworking-ithem-iinto-ishape-ifor-ithe-icoming-ifight.-iAs-ihe-iwatched,-ione-iof-ithem-itook-ithe-ipiece-iof-isteel-ithey-iwere-ishaping-iand-ithrust-iit-iinto-ia-ibarrel-ifull-iof-iwater,-isending-ia-ijet-iof-isteam-iinto-ithe-iair-iwith-ia-iharsh-ihiss.
Cooks-istirred-iseveral-ilarge-icauldrons-iover-imakeshift-icooking-icircles,-idoling-iout-ispoonfuls-ito-ia-iline-iof-ibodies-iwaiting-ifor-ifood.-iScattered-iin-ithe-imidst-iof-ithe-ifamiliar-igreen-clad-imembers-iof-ithe-iCompany,-inearly-itwo-idozen-inew-ifaces-istood,-iclad-iin-ivarious-icolors-iand-istyles-iof-iarmor-iand-idress.-iProbably-imembers-iof-ithe-ivarious-iadventuring-iguilds-ithat-iFarlo-ihad-icalled-iin.-iThere-iwere-ifar-imore-ihere-ithan-ihe'd-iexpected.-iThe-isight-iof-iso-imany-iwell-armed-iadventurers-igave-iJames-ia-ismall-ithrill-iof-iexcitement.-iIf-iall-iof-ithese-iadventurers-iwere-icoming-iwith-ithem,-ithey'd-ihave-ia-ilegitimate-ichance-iat-iwinning.-iThey'd-ihave-ito.-iThere-iwas-ino-iway-ia-icrew-ithis-iformidable-icould-ilose,-iright?-i
###-iChapter-i130-i--iEleanor-iConspires
"Why-iwould-iyour-ison-ikeep-iyou-itrapped-ihere?"-iEleanor-iasked.
Marg'faz-isighed-iand-ishifted-iin-iher-iseat.
"Rawgh'faz-iis-ipowerful-iand-icunning.-iHe-iis-ialso-ivain-iand-iendlessly-iwicked.-iI-iwasn't-ialways-iheld-ilike-ithis,-ibut-iwhen-iI-ispoke-iout-iagainst-ihis-iactions,-ihe-isilenced-ime.-iAnd-iwhen-iI-iattempted-ito-iamass-isupport-ito-ioppose-ihim,-ihe-ihad-ime-iimprisoned-ihere.-iNow-iI-icannot-iaccess-imy-iGifts,-inor-ican-iI-ileave.-iIf-iI-iset-ieven-ia-isingle-ihair-ipast-ithat-ithreshold,-iI'm-isure-iyou-ican-iimagine-iwhat-ithat-isigil-iwill-ido-ito-ime."
Eleanor-ilooked-iat-iMarg'faz,-isurprised.
"You-itried-ito-ioverthrow-iyour-ison?"
Marg'faz-inodded,-ia-ilook-iof-igrim-iamusement-ion-iher-iface.
"Once-iupon-ia-itime."
"But-iwhy?"-iEleanor-iasked.
The-ignoll-iwoman-ishifted-iin-iher-iseat-iagain,-iand-ipicked-iup-iher-icup-iof-itea-ifrom-ia-ismall-itable-inext-ito-iEleanor's-icot.
"Because-iI-idon't-iadhere-ito-ithe-inotion-ithat-ithe-idifferent-iraces-iare-isomehow-iinferior-ito-iour-iown.-iOr-isuperior,-ifor-ithat-imatter."-iShe-isaid,-itaking-ia-isip-ibefore-icontinuing.-i"He,-ihowever,-iis-ifirmly-iconvinced-ithat-inon-furkin-iexist-ifor-isubjugation,-iand-ithat-ionly-ia-iworld-iwhere-ifurkin-irule-iand-ienslave-ithe-iothers-iis-ia-iworld-iworth-ihaving.-iHence-iwhy-iyou-iare-ihere,-ihaving-ibeen-itaken-iand-iused-ifor-ihis-iwhims,-iand-ithe-ireason-iwhy-iwherever-iyou-icome-ifrom-iwas-iattacked."
"And-iwhy-idon't-iyou-ifeel-ithat-iway?"-iEleanor-iasked.
"Because-iI-ihave-ieyes,-iand-iears,-iand-ia-imind-ithat-iisn't-itainted-iby-ifear-iand-ipride."-iMarg'faz-ireplied.-i"Once,-iRawgh'faz-iwas-
ithe-isame-ias-iI.-iBut-ithat-iwas-ibefore-ithe-igreater-idarkness-ireached-ihim.-iWhen-ithe-iemmisaries-icame-ito-iour-itribe-ifrom-iwherever-ithey-icame-ifrom,-ithey-ioffered-ipower-iin-iexchange-ifor-isubservience.-iThe-iprevious-ichieftain,-ibeing-iof-imind-ilike-imine,-irefused-itheir-idemands.-iHe-iwas-ishredded-iinto-ioblivion-iin-ifront-iof-ius.-iOur-itribe-irequires-ithat-iat-ithe-ideath-iof-iour-ileader,-ithe-istrongest-iof-ius-irise-ito-itake-itheir-iplace.-iMy-ison-istepped-iforward-ito-iaccept.-iMany-iother-istrong-ifurkin-iopposed-ihim.-iThey-iwere-idefeated.-iI-ihad-ihoped-ithat,-iknowing-imy-ison-ias-ihe-iused-ito-ibe,-ithat-ihe-iwould-iuphold-igreater-ivalues-iand-ioppose-ithem.-iBut-iI-iwas-iwrong.-iSomething-ichanged-iin-ihim-iwhen-ihe-iaccepted-itheir-iterms,-iand-ihe-ihas-ifallen-ifurther-iand-ifurther-iinto-imadness.-iNow,-ithere-iis-inothing-iI-ican-ido-ibut-iwatch-ias-ihe-iturns-iour-ionce-ilargely-ipeaceful-ipeople-iinto-ia-itribe-iof-iwar."
"So-iwhat-ido-iyou-iwant-ifrom-ime?-iDo-iyou-iwant-ime-ito-itry-iand-ibreak-ithose-isigils-ion-iyour-imantle?"-iEleanor-iasked.
Marg'faz-inodded.-i"Among-iother-ithings.-iOnce-iI-iam-ifreed,-iI-iintend-ito-imake-ia-imove-ion-ithe-ithrone.-iI-ihave-ienough-isupport-iamongst-ithe-ifighters-iof-iour-iclan-ito-ihave-ia-ichance.-iAnd-imy-ison-ilearned-ieverything-ihe-iknows-iabout-icommuning-iwith-ithe-ispirits-ithat-ihe-iknows-ifrom-ime.-iI-idon't-iknow-iif-iI-ican-istop-ihim.-iBut-iat-ithis-ipoint,-iI-icannot-itolerate-iliving-iany-ilonger-iif-iI-idon't-itry.-iIf-iI-ifail-iand-ilose-imy-ilife,-iI-iwill-ihave-iat-ileast-idone-ithe-iright-ithing."
"And-iyou-iwant-ime-ito-ihelp-iyou-itake-ihim-idown."-iEleanor-isaid-isimply.
"I-iexpect-inothing-ifrom-iyou,-ichild.-iBut-iI-ican-iimagine-iyou-iwould-ilike-ithe-iopportunity-ito-iredeem-iyour-ihonor-iagainst-ihim."-iMarg'faz-isaid.
Eleanor's-ieyes-iflared.-i"You're-ifucking-iright-iI-ido."
The-ignoll-iwoman-ismiled.-i"Well,-ithen-ijoining-ime-iin-ithis-ilittle-iplot-iis-iyour-ibest-ichance.-iAre-iyou-iinterested?"
Eleanor-ilooked-iat-iher.-i"I-iwill-ihelp-iyou-ion-ione-icondition--iHe's-imine-ito-ikill."
"Done."-iMarg'faz-isaid,-ifinishing-iher-itea.-i"Drink-iyour-imedicine.-iI-iwill-icall-ithe-iguards.-iAnd-ibetween-inow-iand-iwhen-ithey-iarrive,-iyou-iwill-itell-ime-iwhat-icomponents-iyou-iwould-ilike-ime-ito-ismuggle-iyou."
###-iChapter-i131-i--iEleanor-iConspires-i(part-i2)
In-ithe-ifew-iminutes-ibetween-iher-idrinking-ithe-imedicine-iMarg'faz-igave-iher-iand-ithe-itime-ithe-iguards-iarrived,-iEleanor-iand-ithe-ignoll-iwoman-iplanned-iin-ilow,-ihushed-itones.-iThe-imove-iwas-ito-itake-iplace-iwithin-ithe-inext-itwo-idays.-iWithin-ithat-itime,-iEleanor-iwould-ineed-ito-ihave-iwhat-ispells-ishe-ineeded-ifigured-iout-iand-iprepared,-idisguise-iherself,-iescape-iher-ifetters,-imake-iit-ito-iwhere-iMarg'faz-iwas-iheld,-iand-ibreak-ithe-iseals-ibinding-iher-iand-iher-iabilities.-iThey'd-ithen-irally-ito-ithe-imembers-iof-ithe-iclan-iloyal-ito-iMarg'faz-iand-ilaunch-itheir-iattack.
Even-iputting-iit-ias-isimply-ias-ipossible,-iEleanor-icouldn't-isee-ihow-iin-ithis-iworld-ishe'd-ibe-iable-ito-ipull-iall-iof-iit-ioff,-imuch-iless-ihow-ithe-iattack-iwould-isucceed-iif-ishe-idid.-iBut-iat-ithis-ipoint,-ishe-iwas-ibeing-idriven-ias-imuch-iby-ia-idesire-ifor-irevenge-ias-ishe-iwas-iby-ia-idesire-ito-iescape.-iHer-itime-isitting-iin-ipain-iand-ireflecting-iover-iwhat-ihad-ihappened-ito-iher-ihad-ihardened-isomething-iin-iher.-iShe-iwas-iangry.-iTruly-iangry.-iAnd-isomething-iabout-iMarg'faz-imade-iher-iwant-ito-istay-iand-ifight.-iWas-iit-ithat-ishe-icould-irelate-ito-iher-isomehow?
Ultimately-iit-ididn't-imatter.-iShe-iwas-igoing-ito-ihelp,-iif-ifor-ino-iother-ipurpose-ithan-ibecause-iit-iseemed-ilike-ithe-iright-ithing-ito-ido.-iAnd-imaybe,-ijust-imaybe,-ishe'd-imake-iit-iout-iof-iit-iin-ione-ipiece.-iHopefully-iwith-ithe-ipelt-iof-ithat-iflea-ridden-imonster-islung-iover-iher-ishoulders-ilike-ia-icape.
The-iguards-icarried-iher-iback-ito-iher-iholding-iroom-iand-ichained-iher-iback-ito-ithe-ipost-iless-ithan-igently.-iThe-irestoration-ipotion-ishe'd-idrunk-iwas-ialready-istarting-ito-iwork-iits-iway-iinto-iher-ileg,-icausing-iit-ito-ithrob-iwith-ia-igrinding-iache-ias-iit-ifelt-ilike-ithousands-iof-itiny-isplinters-iworked-itheir-iway-ithrough-ithe-ibloodstream-iin-iher-ithigh.-iAt-ia-ibark-ifrom-ithe-ilead-iguard,-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iguards-ileft-ithe-iholding-icell,-ileaving-iher-ialone-iwith-ihim.-iThe-iguard-iremoved-ia-icloth-ibundle-ifrom-iinside-iits-iarmor,-iand-itossed-iit-ito-iher.
"Mistress-isays-iyou-ineed-ithis.-iMore-ito-icome-itonight-iwith-ifood.-iHide-ithem-iwell."-iIt-isaid-igruffly,-ibefore-iturning-iand-ileaving-iher-ialone.-iIn-ispite-iof-iher-irapidly-igrowing-ipain,-iEleanor-iscrambled-ito-iopen-ithe-ibundle.-iAs-ishe-iunfurled-ithe-ifabric,-ia-imyriad-iof-ismall-iodds-iand-iends-ipoured-iout-iinto-iher-ilap-iand-ionto-ithe-icave-ifloor:-ibuttons,-iherbs,-ia-ifew-ifeathers,-iand-ia-imyriad-iof-iother-ismall-ithings-itoo-ismall-ior-itoo-ibenign-ito-ibe-iof-ivalue-ito-ianyone-ielse.-iTo-iher,-ihowever,-iit-iwas-ia-iveritable-igoldmine-iof-ipotential.-iThere,-iin-ithe-ibottom-iof-ithe-ibundle-iwas-ia-ismall-ifolded-ibit-iof-iparchment.-iShe-ilooked-iat-iit-icuriously,-iand-icarefully-iunfolded-iit.-iOn-ithe-itwo-ipages-iof-ipaper,-iin-ineat-ilittle-irows-iof-imagic-iscript,-iwere-idozens-iof-iarcane-iformulae.-iShe-ididn't-ihave-ito-iuse-iRead-iMagic-ito-iknow-ithat-imuch.
She-isuddenly-ihad-ithe-ioverwhelming-iurge-ito-iscream-ifor-ijoy.-iShe-inow-ihad-iher-iway-iout.-iShe-iwould-ihave-ito-istudy-ithem,-iand-ipractice-ilike-icrazy-ithrough-iher-isleeplessness-iand-ipain,-ibut-ishe-inow-ihad-inothing-ikeeping-iher-ihere-ibut-ithe-itime-iit-itook-ito-ifind-iher-iway-iout.-iShe-icould-ieven-iescape-iwhile-imost-iof-ithe-iclan-iwas-iasleep.-iAnd-iwith-ithis-imany-itools-iat-iher-idisposal,-ishe-icould-ieasily-idispatch-iwhat-ignolls-itried-ito-istop-iher,-ieven-iwithout-ithe-iaugmentation-ipowers-iof-iher-istaff.
Yes,-ishe-icould-irun,-iand-ino-ione-iwould-iblame-iher.
She-ilooked-iat-ithe-iarcane-iformulas-iagain,-iand-inoticed-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ithe-ismall,-ihastily-iwritten-iscript-idown-iat-ithe-ibottom-iof-ithe-ipage:
"I-ihave-igiven-iyou-iwhat-iyou-ineed-ito-iescape.-iI-idon't-iexpect-iyou-ito-istay-iand-ifight-iif-iyou-idon't-iwant-ito.-iBut-imy-iword-istands--iif-iyou-ifight-iwith-ius,-iRawgh'faz-iis-iyours.-iShould-iyou-idecide-ito-istay,-iI-iwill-isee-iyou-isoon.-iIf-inot,-imay-iyou-ialways-iremember-ithat-inot-iall-iof-ius-iare-imonsters.
-Marg'faz"
-i
###-iChapter-i132-i--iPreparing-iFor-iDeparture-i(part-i8)
Preparations-ifor-ithe-icoming-iraid-ilasted-iwell-iafter-idark,-iwith-ismiths-iworking-ibellows-iand-ihammering-isteel,-ito-ifletchers-imaking-iarrows-iand-iwinding-ibow-istrings,-ito-ihealers-ipacking-ihealth-ikits-iand-icooks-ipreparing-itravel-irations.
When-ihe'd-ifirst-ireturned,-iFarien,-iUrien,-iand-iAbigail-iall-igave-iJames-icryptic-iglances-ias-ithey-iappraised-ihis-inew-iarmor-iand-iother-igear,-ibut-isaid-inothing-iof-iit-iwhen-ithey-ispoke-ito-ihim.-iOnly-iFarlo-iseemed-ito-iacknowledge-ithe-ichanges.
"You-iprepared?"-iHe-iasked-iunder-ihis-ibreath-ias-ihe-isidled-iup-inext-ito-iJames.
"As-iwell-ias-iI-ican-ibe."-iJames-isaid,-iwatching-ione-iof-ithe-ismiths-iat-iwork.-i"Your-iadvice-iabout-imy-iaxe-iwas-iuseful.-iThank-iyou."
"Good.-iWithin-ithe-ihour,-iwe're-ihaving-ia-igathering-iof-iall-iof-ithose-iwho-iwill-ibe-icoming-iso-iwe-ican-igo-iover-ifinal-iplans.-iThey-iall-iknow-iyou're-iresponsible-ifor-ithis-iattack-ibeing-ipossible,-iso-imore-ithan-ia-ifew-iof-ithem-iwant-ito-imeet-iyou."-iFarlo-isaid.
"I'll-ido-imy-ibest-ito-iimpress."-iJames-isaid-icalmly,-icasting-ihis-iglance-isidewards-ito-ithe-iold-iman.
The-iold-iman-ismirked-iand-iraised-ian-ieyebrow-iat-ihis-iresponse,-ibut-isaid-inothing.
James-isurveyed-ithe-iclearing.-iIncluding-ihim-iand-iRose,-iall-imembers-iof-iThe-iGreen-iCompany,-iand-ithe-ivarious-iadventurers-iwho-iwould-ibe-ijoining-ithem,-itheir-inumbers-isat-iclose-ito-i50-istrong,-iif-ihe-iwas-icounting-ieveryone-icorrectly.-iThat-iwas-ifar-imore-ithan-ihe-icould-ihave-idreamed-iof,-ieven-iearlier-itoday.-iHe-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-ibe-igrateful-ifor-ithe-ihelp,-ieven-iif-ithey-iwere,-ias-iFarlo-iand-iUrien-ihad-isaid,-iweren't-ireally-idoing-iit-ifor-ithe-isame-ireason-ias-ihim.