"How utterly foolish..."
Ellis watched as the scene before her eyes instantly devolved from a standoff into a bloody free-for-all.
A sliver of cold anger and deep disappointment flashed in her gray-blue eyes as she whispered in a dry voice.
"The monsters are right behind us, yet they're here killing each other over who takes the first step. Is this... barbarism, untamed by knowledge?"
"Utterly foolish, indeed."
Roland's voice came from beside her.
As he spoke, he lowered the still-groggy Ogre from his shoulder, placing him securely beside Holland as if handing over a piece of luggage.
At the same time, his other hand shot out like lightning toward Holland's waist.
Tucked there was a sheathed dagger, newly purchased from the black market and yet to see blood.
"Hey? Rudolph, what are you—"
Holland instinctively tried to protect his new toy, but he was half a beat too slow.
The dagger, sheath and all, had been easily plucked away by Roland.
"Stick with me!"
