Page 177 of Wolf Roulette

Strength, Andie,Booker said.

I tilted my chin. “When my stewards turned over Sandstone, they noted an extraordinary number of lapses in the care of land clause during the pack’s occupation of the grid. Pascal, please send through the list to Mr Greyson.”

The silence as she did so and the wolves perused the thirteen-page document was horrible.

“Some of this was before the turnover,” Sascha noted.

“Excuse me?”

“Three pages of these reports are dated prior to the turnover of Sandstone while your stewards worked for us.” Dark encroached on his glinting honey eyes.

I allowed some of Booker to shine back at him. Greyson could bite me. Well, he had. But he could do it again. “The care of land clause is always in effect. It’s the duty of pack and tribe to ensure this clause is enforced at all times. Do you dispute that?”

“No,” he answered. “It’s nothing I didn’t expect from you.”

I tried to absorb the jab without showing any hurt.

“Then let’s move on,” I continued. “Per the terms of Victratum, a lapse in care of the land results in five penalty points to the opposing team.”

Leroy and Hairy were off to one side, conferring with wolves I assumed had the most sandstone knowledge in the pack.

Hairy whispered in Sascha’s ear.

“The issues you’ve raised are minor at best,” he said. “The care of land clause requires proof that environmental harm has occurred.”

We’d only sent through the minor issues. I’d decided to lure him in and test the ground before revealing my real ace. “I’m disappointed at your apparent disregard and disrespect for this land, Mr Greyson.”

I’d once witnessed Herc talking to Sascha like this.

Never did I think I’d be able to negotiate this way.

He opened his mouth, but I interrupted. “Policies and procedures are formed for each grid with the agreement of both pack and tribe. When creating these best practices,bothsides acknowledge the research studies referenced are the most current and accurate available. The data used to generate our latest sandstone procedures proves the long-term effect of all the reported care of land lapses on that list. The pack did not act in accordance with those policies and therefore, as agreed between both sides, the pack has negatively impacted this land.”

There was no way to refute that, other than that pack actions were short term.

Sascha didn’t reply, listening to Hairy again.

“I’d like to introduce two of our sandstone experts, Isabelle and Dominic,” I said. “They will briefly outline the environmental impact of each item on the list you possess.”

“You don’t have enough here, Head Steward,” Sascha said lazily. “You’re grasping at thin air.”

I narrowed my gaze but didn’t respond.

The two stewards stood and bowed in my direction.

“Head Steward,” Isabelle murmured before facing the Luthers. She was nervous, but I had to applaud her composure. “I’d like to direct everyone’s attention to transgression one.”

Transgression, huh.I may have to borrow that word.

There were over one hundred minor lapses.

I settled back and allowed those who knew far more than me about sandstone take the reins. Sascha’sexpertbattled back at intervals, but it became clear our stewards were far more knowledgeable on the subject.

I took the opportunity to survey the pack members and Sascha for any sign of their reaction.

Dominic finished outlining the last lapse. He bowed my way again and sat.

“Thank you both for explaining the seriousness of these impacts on our beloved valley.” I looked at Sascha. “The penalty for a lapse in this clause is clear. Five penalty points. However, in acknowledgement of the pack’s lack of experience in this grid, we’re willing to extend goodwill and accept a penalty of three points instead.”

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