Hill had always watched from the sidelines with calm composure, but the scene before him finally left him utterly baffled.
Edna, dressed in a lake-blue dress, rested her chin on her hands and gazed at Old School Striking King's animated gestures with open admiration. Now and then, she even hopped down from the bow to throw a few punches alongside the remarkably sure-footed female priest.
Hill couldn't tell what kind of punches they were throwing, but they had the look of military calisthenics. He guessed they were standard combat drills for soldiers in the Undead's world.
After touring Black Rose's ship, Laira had settled on the deck with Cunlü and Xiao Liuliu. A large white parasol shaded them, and tall glasses of chilled fruit juice sat on a small table beside them.
Anyone watching could tell the three women knew each other well and were close.
Thoroughly shaken, Hill took a closer look. Through a window in a second-deck cabin, he spotted Shalor tending to the sleeping twins.
How had things taken such a drastic turn in just a few months?
"Martha..." Hill said stiffly. "Ask Lynn what he told the Undead about Luskan's future governor."
Lynn didn't know what had happened, but he knew Hill wouldn't ask about something he usually avoided for no reason. He came running himself.
Yet all he could do was stand beside Hill and stare blankly at Sailing Far Away's ship. With Laira aboard, stopping them was out of the question.
"Laira... how did she end up with them?" Lynn said faintly, sounding close to his last breath. "I... I only... told them that after they occupied Luskan... they could choose... a Torilian they liked... as governor.
"When the time came... each of the top ten guilds by merit... could nominate a candidate. Then