Chapter 96 Snowcloud (1/2)
”She's what?” Arran looked at Liane in confusion, unsure whether he heard her correctly
”The Patriarch's granddaughter,” Liane repeated ”She arrived in the city just this , to see my father She's a novice, and if you join her, none of the others will dare touch you”
”But ould the Patriarch's granddaughter want to recruit me?”
”She doesn't,” Liane said ”She didn't intend to recruit anyone Buttime, and when I called in some of his favors, she couldn't refuse”
”You called in your father's favors for one that far to help him Whatever there was between her and Darkfire, she only barely knew Arran
”Consider it payment for a debt I owe you,” Liane said ”I know you and Darkfire were going to travel together, and I got in the way of those plans”
”That was his choice to ”
”I owe you a companion,” Liane replied ”Someone to watch your back beyond the border”
Arran opened his mouth to object, but then, he reconsidered ”Thank you,” he said after a hter, doesn't joining her put me in the Iron Mountain faction?”
He remembered that the Iron Mountain faction was h he didn't know randdaughter would certainly put him in their camp
Liane shook her head ”She's not involved in the conflict, and has no taste for politics That's why the others won't touch her — any attack on her would only create enemies for those responsible”
Arran rubbed his chin as he thought it over From what Liane said, it sounded like the perfect solution to his proble that felt off
”Why isn't she involved?” he asked after soht over the future of the Shadowflame Society, isn't it?”
”She's a herbalist,” Liane said ”An accomplished one, supposedly And fros”
Suddenly, the girl's question about plants made sense to Arran ”So across the border…”
”You'll spend the year gathering flowers and plants,” Liane said, so in her voice ”With a bit of luck, you'll be able to avoid cohed at the prospect of a year spent picking flowers ”I suppose it's better than dying,” he said ”If only slightly”
”So you'll join her?” Liane asked, a s on her face
”It sounds like it's my best chance to return alive,” Arran said After a moment's hesitation, he added, ”And thank you I' out for Darkfire,” Liane said ”If so happened because he wasn't there to help you, he wouldn't forgive hian ”What's her name?”
”Dao Xueyun,” Liane replied ”But people call her Snowcloud”
”Dao?” Recognizing the name, Arran raised an eyebrow
Liane nodded ”She and Darkfire are fah, she added, ”So you could say I traded you one sword for another”
Understanding that he had to decide, Arran took soardless of what Liane believed, he doubted that joining the Patriarch's granddaughter would help him avoid trouble Even if she could protect him fro her would merely create new ones
Still, the offer was teirl should have answers to ued him And even if she didn't, she would certainly know so herone of the factions in the Shadowflame Society With as little as Arran knew about the situation, delaying a choice like that could save hiret
It was a difficult choice, but of all his options, this seeht,” he finally said ”I'll join her”
Liane gave hio tell theroup, and even as they approached, Snowcloud turned toward them