6

There's silence for a moment. "You do remember she's a demon, Jun?" Alvis says at last. "And you also remember…what a demon is?"

"A demon who's just admitted she's used up so much of her magical strength that she can't even get to Archa under her own power," you point out. "I don't think we have anything to fear from her."

"We've never had anything to fear from her," Min objects. "She's never tried to hurt us. This is excessive."

Meredith raises a hand. "Jun is right. I won't go anywhere. And so long as you take me to Archa, I don't care what you do to me." She holds out her wrists obediently.

Verity's face is still hard, but she gives you a nod. "There'll be rope at the stables. I'll go on ahead. Jun, watch her." She strides briskly forward.

"Just so I'm clear on this," Evander eventually offers as the rest of you stand in silence, "that's the demon woman, right?"

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