Qeya River Those who are about to die will say anything.

The woman threatens the wolves she does not have official reign over. Most, she suspects, ran to their allies, and the others were dead or celebrating what they’d accomplished. Seageda had no part in what happened, as far as she knew, and no loyal Seageda would would have done such a thing against her word. They were welcome Azhoum into Thuringwethil’s coalition; a brutal, harsh nation and their peace would set the precedent. Not showing up had been a sign, a threat, and she wanted no more to do with them. To find out they’d been on their way, well, she isn’t sure what she’s supposed to do about it now.

“The wolves of Seageda had nothing to do with it,” she reiterates. “Those unfaithful that claim Seageda are nothing to me,” she adds. The wolves that help grow the corruption within her ranks, the destroy the coalition brought together. Wolves from other clans, putting bugs in ears of wolves already wary of her reign. 

Taking in Eli had been a risk but the wolf would have died at her jaws, willingly, on her borders. Dedicated to the lie potentially fabricated against her, Thuringwethil had no real reason to distrust him. The others will be put to similar tests but now she has the threat of the ice-wolves on her tail. Even if they banned the female before her, they could come—if they were truly upset, if they believed she ordered the hit—and she’s at a loss with what to do with the woman that stands before her.