78

"My reign, when it comes, will pride itself on honesty, integrity, and hard work, not on paying my relatives to sit idly by. Whatever you get will have to be earned."

Drazha does her best to disguise her distaste, placing her goblet of wine down upon the small table in front of her.

"Sour grapes?" you ask.

"A young vintage," she replies. "The crops of recent seasons are not what they used to be. Now, let us talk of this new arrival. This sorry creature with whom fate has burdened us—what did you say his name was?"

"Vanya," you reply.

"Vanya," she echoes. "Not a leader's name, that. Not even a warrior's. You and Kral are too soft sometimes, I think. I only hope that you can send him back to his tribe before he becomes even more of a burden to us."