"Agreed," Aske nodded, then said to Sigrdrifa, "But you are not to use that 'Blood Eagle'."
"No problem, I know of another ship punishment," Sigrdrifa clapped her hands enthusiastically, "Tie him to a ship, make an incision in his belly without damaging the organs, then after stopping the bleeding near the wound, smear it with honey, and set the ship adrift at sea. The flies that come smelling will..."
"Enough, Sigrdrifa," Aske said with an exasperated smile, cutting her off sternly, "No punishments of any kind, got it? There's no point in torturing the enemy, just finish them off."
"The way you talk, it's like you're the most stubborn elder in our village," Sigrdrifa pouted.
...
Inside the Golden Governance Palace, Theodora and Her Majesty Zoe had spent the entire morning discussing military maneuvers with the Chancellor, both feeling as if their heads were about to split open, with their brain cells nearly depleted.
