For a moment, Stevens almost thought the rat knew something.
The incubus was still talking, lost in her own plan. "Once the Red-Eye Clan's territory is left undefended, you can land from the sea, pile felstone at the fault line, and call yourselves the Blackwatch Legion to lure the ratfolk back. Then detonate the felstone!"
The bloodlust and madness in her eyes were genuine.
"Like The Boy Who Cried Wolf?" Femi said, though it did not seem quite the same.
"What's The Boy Who Cried Wolf?"
"A story Lord Annan wrote. It's about a child who tended livestock..."
The story was not much like Lady Biross's plan, but its lesson gave the incubus pause. "I want to take it back for Bi—uh, the elder to hear."
The incubus had stumbled over her words. Femi was not surprised; plenty of ratfolk had one-syllable names. Nor was he surprised that another ratfolk stood behind her.
The ratfolk before him surpassed any slave rat in every respect. There had to be someone important behind her.
"Was this Elder Bi the rat who sent you?"
"Yes..."
The incubus lowered her head and admitted it.
The plan was highly workable. If it was not a trap, the Hellfire Legion might genuinely be able to wipe out an entire ratfolk clan.
Femi glanced at the young cavalry soldiers around him. The warriors yearned for glory. Then he looked at Stevens. "I have no more questions," he said.
The incubus had just breathed a sigh of relief when Femi said, "I have one more question."
"This is the demons' stronghold. They won't stand by and do nothing."
"The demons won't come," the incubus said flatly.
Femi stared at the resolute ratfolk. "How do you know?"
"Because those demon things don't get along with the Red-Eye Clan."
Lady