The Bloodless War (Blade and Bone Book 4) by D.K. Holmberg

Author:D.K. Holmberg [Holmberg, D.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ASH Publishing
Published: 2023-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

MORGAN

Morgan looked along the rows of buildings. Everything had stabilized, for the most part. There were not quite as many people from Sanaron that straggled into the city any longer, not like there had been at first. Every so often, some would come and claim that they were from Sanaron, seeking refuge. Though it was difficult to tell one way or another, Morgan had begun to question how many of them were truly from Sanaron and how many claimed to be so that they could embed themselves within the encampments. The idea that someone would take advantage of that situation surprised her. But when she mentioned that to Adira, the woman had laughed at her.

“People are always looking to take advantage. Your suffering is somebody’s opportunity. Remember that.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Morgan said.

“It doesn’t have to, but unfortunately, that is the way of the world. When a person has a chance to take advantage, they’re going to take it. Especially if they feel there is an opportunity to profit.”

That didn’t sit well with Morgan. “We don’t have anything to take.”

“It may not appear that way, but to others we might look like an easy target. Maybe somebody poor from inside the city has decided to use our misfortune.”

“That’s horrible,” Morgan said.

As worldly as she wanted to think herself, she was worldly only in the fact that she had seen much of the world, not because she understood the ways of the people in it. In that regard, Adira might be far more worldly than her, and far better at identifying those who wanted to cause harm.

“Horrible or not, that’s the kind of thing that’s likely to happen,” Adira said. “I’ve got eyes watching, so don’t worry.”

“What kind of eyes?”

“Maybe not enough. It’s probably time that we start organizing. We’re essentially a city outside of a city, and we have to behave like it. We’re going to need to assign tasks, set up a city watch, and generally begin to create order. If we don’t, all we’ll do is attract the wrong kind of attention, and perhaps continue to attract the wrong kind of people.”

As much as Morgan hated to acknowledge that, she had to admit that perhaps Adira had the right of it. They had to be smart. Not only that, but her people needed a measure of stability. That would also prove to Jagger how willing they were to work with the people of Verendal, and how they were worthy of protection.

“I can help,” Morgan said.

Adira glanced at her. “Oh, you’re going to need to. I might be able to organize this, but you have the name recognition, and you’re going to bring a measure of respectability.

“I think you have plenty of respectability. You did sit on the council,” she conceded.

“Only right before the attack. That doesn’t mean much to most.”

Morgan thought there might be another way they could help the people. “How has your practice been going?”

Adira reached for her arms and scratched at them.

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