The color drained from Lucien's face when he saw the new hostages.
"Ten," Zahyla counted on her fingers like a child. "It's an interesting number, isn't it? And since we have our set of ten..." She turned to the artromus who had executed the first hostage. "I'm afraid the other nine have become... necessary."
With a wave of her hand, all the prisons shattered simultaneously. The executioner artromus opened its jaws, approaching the next hostage.
"Stop!" Lucien's voice thundered.
"Oh, you do care after all?" Zahyla tilted her head. "I suppose we could reconsider."
She gestured and the artromus stopped.
"Although..." Zahyla approached the barrier, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"We could resolve this right now. One final fair battle. I just need to see your true leader." Her eyes gleamed. "Or would you prefer we keep playing this numbers game until there are no soldiers left to count?"
