Instead of arguing, Chenaya cocked her head quizzically.
“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned archers or arrows, Jubal. For my own curiosity, were you behind the arrow that nicked Zip?”
Jubal cursed himself inwardly. He would have to stop underestimating this girl just because she was young. Her mind was quick to pick up unrelated conversational points and weave them into whole fabric.
“No,” he said carefully, “but I know who was. The eye behind that arrow used to work for me, and unless her skills have degenerated badly since her departure, if his ear was hit, that was the target.”
He noted the sudden lift of her eyebrow and realized too late that he had inadvertently given away the gender of the archer. It was time to steer conversation back to less sensitive subjects.
“We were speaking of your infallible luck. You seem to feel that if you never lose, you’ll never fail. That kind of thinking is dangerous, both for you and anyone who sides with you. There is no such thing as an unstoppable attack or an impenetrable defense. Believing in one or the other only leads to overconfidence and disaster.”
“But if I never fail in battle…”
“… Like your attack on Theron?” The crimelord smiled.
“The attack was a success. We just chose the wrong target,” she argued stubbornly.
“Spare me the rationalizations. Anyone who deals with magic or gods gets quite adept with excuses. All I know is that supernatural intervention exacts a price dearer than most intelligent people are willing to pay.”
“Of course, you speak with the authority of one who has had a wide range of experience with gods and magic.”