Althea did not bother to respond. She looked at the steam rising from her tea and realized that there was no point in arguing with someone whose outlook on reality about Ossuarists was so firmly set. Instead, she picked up her tea and took a slow sip. The silence she left behind was its own answer.
Malakor watched her with a small smile on his lips, as if he also knew, or at least had some inkling of the true might of Preceptors.
"The Preceptor's position remains unchanged," Althea said, setting the cup down. "The fortress is not up for negotiation. Either you give up on your attempts to claim it, saving the lives of many of your forces in the process. Or you get wiped out… entirely."
Riley let out a sharp, barking laugh in response, opening his mouth to deliver what would have certainly been another polished insult…
But he never got the words out.
