Chapter 167
Barter seemed to take my remark as a joke.
“That was a good joke, Luan Bednicker,” said Barter. “I might have actually laughed if not for the circumstances. But you really should work not just on your skills but also on how to read a room.”
Since I wasn’t trying to start a fight, I just nodded in acknowledgment. Of course, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to say what I wanted to say.
“I'd like to ask your permission for Brother Hector's withdrawal.”
“That conversation is over. We don’t have the luxury of finding a safe place.”
“So you are suggesting we leave the cadets here, in the middle of dangerous enemy territory?”
“Not exactly. There's a building we just left, one where we took care of most of the dolls inside, and it's a much safer place than anywhere else. I plan to leave them there.”
“...”
I was silent for a moment. He really was planning to completely abandon them.