237 Blood Of The Dragon

"What do you want?" Elsa shot back at Stalwart. There was rage, but also helplessness in the way she looked at him.

"That's no way to speak to your host," Stalwart said. 

"You're my warden," she spat. "And this is my prison." 

"You wound me," Stalwart said. "I spared you when you fought Hartwell. I wouldn't do that for my prisoners." 

"What do you want?" she asked again. 

Stalwart sighed heavily. "I'll be leaving tonight," he said in a quiet, calm tone. "I won't be coming back for a very, very long time. I'll cut to the chase. I want you to take Hartwell's place." 

Elsa's thin eyebrows furrowed. "I don't follow you," she said. "I lost the fight against him." 

Stalwart had granted Lady Vogel a fight against Hartwell. The winner would then be granted control over the underworld chapter in all of Biarkh, not just Merinsk. Elsa suffered a humiliating loss, but Stalwart spared her life.