Mace's smile froze. A flash of confusion crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by anger.
He struggled to stand, but the pain from his wounds left him immobile.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Mace's voice was hoarse.
'Is Henry toying with me? First, he feigns friendliness, then he suddenly turns hostile, and now he's hypocritically sparing my life?!'
Bain stood up, frowning. He looked down at Mace without a hint of sympathy.
"Lord Baron Henry's decision is not for you to question. The fact that he's left you with your life is already the utmost benevolence."
On this continent, conflicts between nobles were brutal. The loser often didn't even get to keep their life. That Henry had spared him was a rare act of mercy.
"So, should I thank him? Thank him for making me lose everything, for turning me into a laughingstock?"
Bain didn't answer. He turned and walked away from Mace, heading toward the other side of the battlefield.
