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"You don’t know that…"

"Stop" I glare at hi it in siren songs What would you know about success anyway? You were kicked out of the Court altogether You’re barely better than a filthy Lesser"

Brim yowls She never likes it when I harden my voice at anyone

My harsh comments are meant to hurt Dax, but he barely lifts an eyebrow Six years ago, Dax had been considered the best of the Elite As Lord Killian’s son--the Underlord credited with bringing back an entire sorority of Boons fros were expected of hi back a Boon who had been hand selected for Dax by the Court But six ate opened for the return, he had been the only Champion to come back alone He’d failed, and suffered the wrath of the Court as a consequence He’d been stripped of his rank, cast out of the Underlords, and had lived as a servant ever since

"It’s tio," Dax says, like he won’t take no for an answer

I pick up another rock, toss it up ine intoChosen in the first place? Ren had even said that if I succeeded, he’d grant htful place at his side

But he’d also made it very clear ould happen if I don’t succeed His oath tome out of the ranks of the Underlords as he did with Dax Whichmuch worse My jaw clenches as I re the rock out theIt flies so far that it misses the moat and disappears into the treetops of the orchard I turn back to Dax

"What if I fail?"

"You won’t," he says so definitively that I don’t want to argue Dax has always had that power over me "Besides, you’ll have me to help you"

I really look at him for the first time since he entered the roost and see that instead of his servant’s robes, he’s dressed in strange dark blue pants made from a thick cloth, and a short-sleeved tunic, which has a picture of souely like a horseless chariot on it It rearments many of the Champions and Boons are dressed in when they return from the Overrealm Over his shoulder, Dax carries a satchel that looks like it’s packed to capacity

"You’re cos "I convinced Lord Killian that since you are the sole Chae for your quest I assuuide who’s been to the rateful smile "But you botched your quest"

"Then who better to make sure you don’t do the same?" Dax puts his hand onhis voice, "the fact that Killian agreed to letting you take a guide andwhat the Oracle said to you about the fate of the Underreal on your shoulders only serve to confir on here than anyone is telling you"

I nod "The Oracle said that the Boon I a that was taken fro about a Cypher"