Get out of there now, get out of there… Ellia mentally begged Alexandria, Roseanna, and Molly. Instead, three more explosions went off on the dune, and then Ellia heard more gunfire.

The Lionesses were on their feet now, running in fear, and her own tribe took the opportunity to shoot them down once again, thinning their ranks dramatically. When the smoke had cleared, the leader of the Lionesses slowly emerged from her spot on the dune, hands behind her head.

Ellia’s women were not about to show her mercy, but Ellia stayed them before they fired by holding a hand up. “Let her come to us and hear what she has to say. After all, we want her alive to help convince her women to join our tribe."

“Yes ma’m, they all said in unison.”

Ellia kept her rifle trained on the woman as she made her way down the dune, making sure to shoot her if she tried anything. It took a grueling twenty minutes for the tribal leader to close the space between them, and when she did, Ellia bade one of her women to tie her hands behind her back and bring her inside.

***

Inside the fortress, Ellia saw that Hilargi had been knocked out, and asked one of her tribeswomen to haul her to a bed. Nikodemus must have knocked her out and used her handprint to open the doors… Ellia thought to herself. After that, her concession of women dispersed but for those who would be present at the negotiations she was about to have with the Lioness’ leader.

Ellia glanced over her shoulder constantly to make sure her people still had a good hold on the woman, and was glad to see that they did. Ellia felt a little bad about defeating her, especially since the woman’s doom was now just around the corner, but at the same time, she recognized that it was necessary to take the woman out to ensure the survival of her own tribe. She climbed up the stairs and then headed to the war room, where her women shoved the leader of the Lionesses into a chair, and Ellia sat in the chair next to her.

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The woman was looking at her with blazing, hateful, brown eyes. The leader of the Lionesses very much resembled a vulture—she had a beakish nose, beady eyes, and a thin, almost crooked looking, very thin neck. Ellia looked at her dress and saw that she was not even wearing a polymer suit; she was wearing heavy metal armor—a clear sign that her mutants were not as smart as her own.

“What’s your name?” was the first thing Ellia asked.

The woman was silent for the briefest of seconds, and then she mumbled, “Nadia.”

“Good to meet you, Nadia.” Ellia replied with a nod, folding her hands in her lap. “I suppose you know why I’ve brought you here?”

The woman’s eyes were glassy. She could say nothing for a time. “You brought me here to kill me, but not before you make me tell my women to go with you.”

Ellia nodded. “That’s right. You would have done the same to me. Now, we already know where your tribe is thanks to my excellent scouts, but, we can’t open the fortress without your handprint—nor can we convince the remainder of your women to lay down their arms without your say-so. We would rather this all go smoothly.”

The other woman went dead quiet. Her eyes were lowered, her arms were crossed. “And you’ll let my women live, correct? You’ll absorb them into your tribe?”

“Yes. That’s right.” Ellia assured her.

Nadia took a deep breath. “Very well. I’ll help you so long as you spare them. Please, make my death quick and painless as well.”

Ellia clapped the woman on the shoulder. “Of course. They will be unharmed so long as they surrender without a fight. I’ll make sure they’re all well trained and well taken care of. And your death will be quick and painless. You can choose the method, if you want.”

Nadia wiped away oncoming tears, sniffling. “Thank you. A beheading would do me honor.” The woman said.

“Of course. I’ll go with you, first thing tomorrow morning to your fortress. For tonight, we’ll have to keep you cuffed and under watch, but you’ll have a nice bed.” Ellia said amiably. She turned to two of her soldiers who had followed her, “Farah, Raina, take her to the brig. I have some other business to attend to.”

Ellia’s fists clenched when she remembered what that business was. I need to have a talk with that Nikodemus again.