Page 19 - UnderEarth

“Hmph. Wouldn’t be a tragedy if you had. He’s too focused on you. There’s no future there.”
Storm found she was offended. “It’s not that!” “Oh?” Lake’s eyebrows rose in a questioning curve. “It’s my magic Cloud likes, not me!”
“So that’s the way of it? I noticed he fancies playing
hero.”
“He’s angry with me for not sinking the raft town.” “And I’m pleased you didn’t kill yourself trying!
You’re of no worth to Yanlin drowned and eaten by the fishes!”
A proprietorial glint in his eyes. Storm looked away.
“But I didn’t bring you here to talk about Cloud. I need to warn you.”
She glanced up, wondering.
“The Pact,” said Lake, as if that explained everything. “What about it, Uncle?” Everyone knew about the
Pact – the group of fifteen families who ran Bellum Island, where most trading was done.
“They’ll be after you.”
“After me? I don’t understand.”
“Witches...” he paused, his jaws working as if he
was chewing on something foul tasting, “...don’t have
to work for their birth island. The Pact will try and win
you. Bribe, if you like. So you’ll leave us and go work
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