Elder Isar stepped forward urgently.
"Grand Elder, give her what she wants," he pleaded. Fear trembled beneath his voice.
Wrynn added his support, though it tasted bitter.
"We know nothing about that weapon. Earlier, my arrow barely scratched it. A hundred thousand gold is heavy, but we can recover within weeks. The Emperor will not ignore the ones who attacked two major Houses."
His earlier confidence had evaporated in the face of unfamiliar destruction. Now, he thought strategically. Imperial authority could become their weapon later.
From behind them came a desperate cry.
"Father!"
Brelan Dawn ran forward, armor cracked but body intact.
Corven allowed himself a brief breath of relief at seeing his son alive. Then he lifted his gaze toward the helicopter again.
"Fine," he said at last, voice low and controlled. "You win this time, Kiara. But House Dawn will remember."
Nearly twenty minutes later, the helicopter descended cautiously and settled upon the scarred courtyard.
