Akar held up his hands before his face, as though contemplating them with his sightless gaze. “With the power of even a single of these rings, I could blast that force to cinders,” he mused casually, as though to himself. “With all of them together I could decimate ten armies. I have little to fear from these guards.
“And yet, what end would it serve if I killed these people against whom I have no grievance? Power must be used for a purpose; to waste it indiscriminately is foolish. I have yet to determine whether I have anything worth fighting for; the fight, therefore, would be useless. Retreat can be a sign of prudence and compassion as well as weakness. If I need anything further here, I can always return.”
He turned to Jafar al-Sharif. “Did you wish to return to Ravan for the urn?”
