[Maddy doesn't look at them, or even at Cecily as she goes. Her arms are folded over her chest. Her face is carefully blank but Teo can see the set in her jaw, especially as Ryder speaks. He shuffles closer to the latter.
For a long moment, it doesn't seem like Maddy's going to say anything at all.]
...Cecily is talented. She's a good shot and in our old days she could take on even the toughest jobs with ease. But being skilled isn't the same as being fit for this.
Our father has high standards. He also doesn't need two soldiers, as you put it. We were trained from the beginning to take one another on in the case of a mistake. There's no room for weakness or hesitation in our work. We have to be ready to do what must be done.
Cecily isn't ready. She wants a different life bad enough that it makes her sloppy. Our father isn't afraid to cull one from the herd for the sake of a stronger herd. I was the one to cut down those who turned against Cecily and I. But there is no one left.
[She doesn't say it, but with the full horrifying picture made clearer, Teo realizes that he and Ryder aren't the only ones in danger. His hand finds Ryder's sleeve, gripping tight.]
There are plenty she could be useful to, but she needs people who are useful to her as well. [Maddy turns to them, expression flat, maybe even a little resentful that they couldn't be the people Maddy was hoping they'd be.] It was a shot in the dark. I can't be surprised it didn't hit.
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For a long moment, it doesn't seem like Maddy's going to say anything at all.]
...Cecily is talented. She's a good shot and in our old days she could take on even the toughest jobs with ease. But being skilled isn't the same as being fit for this.
Our father has high standards. He also doesn't need two soldiers, as you put it. We were trained from the beginning to take one another on in the case of a mistake. There's no room for weakness or hesitation in our work. We have to be ready to do what must be done.
Cecily isn't ready. She wants a different life bad enough that it makes her sloppy. Our father isn't afraid to cull one from the herd for the sake of a stronger herd. I was the one to cut down those who turned against Cecily and I. But there is no one left.
[She doesn't say it, but with the full horrifying picture made clearer, Teo realizes that he and Ryder aren't the only ones in danger. His hand finds Ryder's sleeve, gripping tight.]
There are plenty she could be useful to, but she needs people who are useful to her as well. [Maddy turns to them, expression flat, maybe even a little resentful that they couldn't be the people Maddy was hoping they'd be.] It was a shot in the dark. I can't be surprised it didn't hit.