Page 34 of Savage Throne
“Where are they?”
“Mount Utopia. That was what had flickered in my head when Banks brought up my harming his men there. Because. . .”
“What, Lei?”
“I kind of wished I had just stayed there with Moni, training. I thought to myself really fast how all of this could have been avoided if we had stayed.”
“Why did you leave Mount Utopia?”
“My father sent Yan under the guise of talking to me but she was really there to take Chanel’s body. Moni told me later that he confessed to doing so because he wanted my mind off of Chanel, but now. . .”
Dima put his hands in his pockets. “You think it was more than that?”
“He had my Uncle Song tell me go up to Mount Utopia to train and then he takes Chanel away which triggers me to leave Mount Utopia, next thing you know I’m in the Palace and I just. . .get this overwhelming feeling to have Moni there with me.”
“Then, you introduce her to the East.”
“And more events occur where she is at the forefront. She does a big speech, me too. And there’s the tea ceremony.”
“And the cookout. While Leo probably didn’t anticipate it, I doubt your father would have let it happen if he didn’t want to.”
“I think he always planned to get Moni the night before the battle.”
“I think so too.”
“And he surely planned for the tea ceremony and the speeches.”
“O-kay.”
“So. . .why have my uncle tell me to go to Mount Utopia? It wasn’t to get out of Glory. He was done with that town.”
Dima nodded. “And if he wanted you in the East then he would have never had Song say anything about Mount Utopia.”
“Exactly.” My hands shook. “Now I’m thinking the battle will be there tomorrow.”
“I wondered where it would be. Leo respects history and tradition. This will be a battle of the Mountain Masters. . .where else would they battle but on a mountain.”
“Goddamn it. I’m going to need men to go there.”
“Leo would be prepared for that. Do the moves that you think he will assume, being in the Palace, training, etc.” Dima touched my chest. “Let me call our people to get satellite viewing on Mount Utopia and perhaps even some drones over there.”
“He can’t know that anyone is monitoring.”
“He won’t.”
“Yan’s men are there.” I rubbed my forehead.
“If Moni killed one of them, would she be seen as powerful?”
“It would need to be more than one and filmed. There would have to be clear proof.”
“That sounds tricky, Lei. Your father is insane, but how would he get her to do that all before the battle.” Dima sighed. “What if he has her kill Song and some of his men?”
“I can’t see that angle. I think he likes the fact that Duck cares for Moni. His affection provides more protection. If Moni killed my uncle, Duck would be devastated.”
Dima quirked his brows. “Duck cares for Moni?”
“He had a crush on her. I ended it, but. . .I know there’s still feelings there. He’s just chosen not to pursue them.”
