“I would say ‘despise’ is too strong a word,” Juli said. “You are simply an unknown element in a critical situation. And as a military officer, that is just the sort of thing that has caused my worst problems.<br/><br/>“And while it may be true that long time enemies often exaggerate one’s misdeeds, that does not mean every claim they make must be a lie.” She paused. “Oh, and I believe your offer was to kill ‘a withered old monarch, already bound for the grave’—you can’t seriously expect me to believe that does not refer to my father and his well-known poor health of late.” Juli stopped herself, as much as she was tempted to go on—there was nothing else she could say that would do anything but antagonize the assassin further.