Derek let out a long, tired sigh as he glanced at William. The young man was walking beside him with an unmistakably satisfied expression on his face, and Derek genuinely could not understand why.
After everything they had discussed that morning with Chief Jun of the Mistwalker Tribe, satisfaction was the last emotion Derek expected to see.
The meeting had gone smoothly enough, unlike their previous encounter; Jun had greeted them respectfully and cooperated throughout the discussion. There had been no hostility, no resistance, and no attempts to conceal information after William had dealt with him.
Unfortunately, the revelations that followed had created a completely different problem. Derek felt as though every answer they received only led them to new questions.
When William and Derek had finally asked Jun why he had repeatedly refused to cooperate with the Empire, the tribal chief had revealed something neither of them had expected.
