Taga blinked, confused by the sudden change in topic.
"They… they are strong, Great Female. But since they moved to the high caves, and the fire king had wounded their Chief, he has not come out."
"Isn't that because he's ashamed of his wounded wing?" Hana asked, but Taga shook his head, unsure, and then leaned in to whisper to the Elder, and Kulu wouldn't hear.
"I have heard rumors, Great female. It has been around before the chief's fight with the fire king. They say the reason he was not able to win was that he was cursed." Hana blinked, interested in this conversation. "They say his skin is turning redder by the day and falling away."
Hana felt a cold shiver of confirmation and exhilaration. She didn't even need to pretend it was poison or lie about it. The symptoms of the Chief were either a result of radiation or a thermal leak.
He had been exposed to the power conductor without any appropriate measures, and this was what it caused him.
Now, she had her leverage.
