[Mekatra]

"You're a common criminal and you want to try to pretend you balk at harming others?" The king's voice was harsh. "Prison or the gallows are still options if you suddenly want to pretend to be a model citizen." He waved his hand in dismissal. "You have a fortnight to decide and begin your training, if at the end of that time you haven't showed any progress and have found your allegiances, we will rethink this arrangement."

Joane's hand found the back of his neck again and she dragged him forcibly from the room. "I feel it would be quicker to just kill you now. Do you actually have qualms about killing people?" She shook her head in surprise.