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Death of a Traitor
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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*Rafe*I look at today’s numbers and sigh into my hand, scrubbing my stubbly face. Ten thousand. Another ten thousand lost in the south. And not quite as far south as I would like. We’re being completely flattened, and there is nothing–NOTHING–I can do about it. The nobles have sent everyone they can from their respective duchies, and we’ve even considered sending in women. Ainslee suggested that one and has been rather upset with me for shooting her idea down.It’s not a bad idea, and it’s not even that I think women can’t fight. I know they can. I just know there are enough people, from nobles on down, who would be up in arms about such a decision, and we can’t afford that right now.Looking at these numbers, though, I’m starting to think we aren’t going to have a choice. Sending women to war is better than seeing them enslaved or who the fuck know what else. Tormentians aren’t exactly known for their civilized ways.There is a soft rap at my door, and I glance up. Ainslee is there
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*Rafe*Ainslee is still sleeping when I roll off the intricately carved loveseat. While it may look pretty, it did not make for a good night’s rest.I stand over Ainslee’s sleeping form for several minutes, contemplating this new chapter I wasn’t expecting in our life. I’m not going to wake her up, I decide. The minute I open my mouth, I know I’ll say something stupid, or at least something she’ll take the wrong way, and we’ll be fighting again. No, I need to sort myself out before talking to her about the baby again.Unfortunately, I also need to tackle a war in my kingdom, and that has to take priority. I lean down and kiss Ainslee’s forehead, then tuck the covers more securely around her before heading out of the crimson room to find Alpha King Striker.Karl, I remind myself. I need to start thinking of him as Karl. I’m marrying his cousin, after all.The king is at breakfast, a helpful servant tells me, and even takes me to the long hall with towering stained glass windows depicti
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*Rafe*Zeke, Percival, and I lean over my desk in my office, looking at the new numbers. “I think you should also push into Tormentia,” Percival says.“You just want King Dartmoth Croft to get it right up the ass,” Zeke snorts.“Why not? He deserves it,” Percival replies.“I’ll have the army push forward into Tormentia,” I agree. “King Dartmoth doesn’t deserve to be responsible for a pet rock, much less an entire people. Reports say soldiers’ families are being threatened. I’d like to take that off their chests so they might surrender instead of fighting for a king who abuses his power.” I rub my chest.Percival puts his hand over my heart again, and the warmth spreads, taking away most of the terrible pain. But I can see it costs him as his shoulders droop when he finishes.“Thank you,” I say. “Really. I know whatever you’re doing isn’t easy on you.”“I’d rather have my king fighting fit and take a few more naps than have you curled in agony on the floor while Zeke and I try to strat
