"What sort of bizarre discovery needs me to come over right now? Did you find out that bastard Salokdar's still alive and invite me to finish him off?"
Triss emerged from her tent, deeply displeased.
She had been conducting a very important psychic interference experiment. Although Maxim's report had left her grumbling over the interruption, she quickly packed up and, escorted by Bonnie, headed for the collapsed Blood Eagle Corridor.
Triss was too weak to even summon her blood wings, so she had to go on foot—and that took time.
And all of it was part of Murphy's plan.
After watching Lady Triss leave, Maxim wasted no time and went straight to the tent where Lord Palanno and the three Bloodbound Knight scouts were staying.
But, to the loyal servant's surprise, when he arrived, all of them had already changed into the midnight formal attire required for an official occasion. It seemed they had long anticipated what would happen tonight.
"Why such a surprised expression? Your mistress isn't the only beautiful thing in this world blessed with the beauty of wisdom."
Palanno carefully pinned a dewy midnight rose to the breast of his formal attire, then reached up to toy with his golden curls. His handsome face was full of eager anticipation.
He glanced again at Maxim's arm, slung in a bandage, and looked him up and down. The loyal servant's appearance set him apart from every other human.
After a few seconds' consideration, the sentimental knight lord stepped forward and laid a hand on Maxim's injured arm.
He spoke softly:
"Such unwavering loyalty, forged without a bond of blood, is a rare beauty in this world. Yet blind loyalty, brave but lacking wisdom, seriously diminishes your beauty."
Crimson psychic energy flickered at Palanno's fingertips.
The power seeped into Maxim's