The Scorpion Rules

Here is something that you learn when you spend a lifetime in rigorous study of the history of war: the weaknesses we perceive in others are often the ones we fear in ourselves. Talis was, famously, someone who knew how to use love -- parent-child love -- as a lever. How to turn grief into power. Well. Two could play at that game.

"Xie," I said. "Do you think they`ll kill me?" Da-Xia`s fingers stroked the pulse poing in my wrist. There weren`t five people in the world who would have answered me honestly, but Xie was one of them. She said, "Not right away."