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“No Why did you mark him as a traitor?”

“Because he organized a coup with Damien”

Balto never told s or lead He bowed out and letby the expression on his face, he didn’t agree with that at all “You should have killed him, Heath That’s a killable offense”

“I know But I’d just shot one of the guys…wasn’t popular at the tiht that would redeem me—and it did”

Balto didn’t agree “He’s going to keep co after you—”

“The reason he’s difficult is because he wants the throne for himself Now that he can’t possibly have that—ever—there’s not much point anymore”

“Or he’s going to kill you for taking away the one thing he actually cares about”

I shrugged “Balto, it’s done Nothing we can do about it now”

He shook his head slightly as he rubbed his palether

“No one has figured out it’s you and not me?”

“No”

“Wow I’”

He watched the TV for a while “Your ban on slavery is unpopular, even though it see as well as it possibly could But you stopped takingto ask questions Are you going to resume that?” He turned back to me

“No”

His eyes narrowed again

“I’ to undo all the work I did by pissing hiain”

“And hoill you explain that to the men?”

“Why do I have to explain anything at all?” I snapped

He rubbed his palood leader rules with respect, not fear”

“I’ them I just don’t need to explain this”

“Do they know about Catalina?”

“Only Steel does”

“Well, if they ever figure out you es because of a woman…” He bowed his head and looked at the floor “That’ll be bad news They pull the throne out from underneath you”