What followed after the bold proclamation made by the daring man was a silence so taut it felt as if something was actually about to snap.
I just hoped it wasn't my father's patience.
Because, no, really?
They wanted my father to do what?
What kind of idiot walks straight into a lion's den and asks the alpha to politely hand over a piece of his territory?
I honestly thought I had misheard him for a second.
So I tilted slightly toward Calliope and muttered under a breath, "Sorry, but did that man just ask Father to give up a war zone we bled for?"
"Yes," she whispered back without looking at me. Her voice was tight like she was terrified we'd get into trouble for speaking right now. "And please, stop talking."
Argh. So rude.
I straightened up and looked back toward the foreigners, studying them with newfound curiosity.
They were brave, I'd give them that. Incredibly brave, even. Either that, or just incredibly suicidal.
Possibly both.
