Several nights had passed, and San diligently attended to Ustal's needs whenever possible. She was assigned to harvest more indigents, but their screams and pleas for mercy bothered and irritated her. In her mind, she was doing them a favor by ending their wretched lives and allowing them to serve a greater purpose. Unfortunately, the pitiful creatures failed to see it that way, as they never did.
To show appreciation for her efforts, she presented her mate with three additional hearts. Carrying them with her, she emerged from her humble dwelling, stained with blood and filth. Three more bear-men warriors awaited her on their knees, while Ustal and his formidable army observed. Though they were relatively small in number, just over fifty men, it still surpassed the entire wolf tribe, according to Ustal's scouts.
