To this point, the entire talk had felt as if he were surrendering to Grady's demands. Like his voice didn't truly matter.
Grady and Akkuron wanted what they wanted, and Vale had no choice but to cede. At most he could pretend he had free will in the exchange, but he really didn't.
He was truly nothing more than a marionette controlled by invisible strings.
The only thing he had on his side was Akkuron's hubris…
They'd brought along someone weak. Vale could tell that weakness was no disguise; it was true. They had been dressed up and hidden as a knight, but they moved so awkwardly it was laughable.
Vale took another step toward the person whose helmet was shifting side to side in wild confusion at everything having gone still.
