"Nancy may be unruly, but she's not stupid," Rus said, the anger in his voice finally ebbing. "She'll come back. Don't worry."
This unexpected commotion ended with Rus successfully subduing Margaret. But he had no time to savor the victory—his condition was far worse than it appeared.
The Dirge of Shadows had already taken a heavy toll on his body. His mental strength was completely depleted. Coupled with a fierce argument with Nancy, Rus now found himself so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open.
"I need some rest," he muttered, bending down to retrieve an enchanted crossbow bolt from the floor and tucking it away. "Keep a close watch on the Scorpion Nest. I want constant reports. Wake me immediately if anything happens."
"Understood, my lord!" Vlav responded respectfully.
Rus lay down in the corner where a blanket had been laid out, wrapped himself tightly, and fell into a deep, troubled sleep.