As hostile as Draega can be, the lands past it are worse. There isn't much to found and chances are you'll end up fighting with the mercenaries over anything you do find. [ The dark growl underscoring his words suggests the gravity of running into those same mercenaries. His gaze flicks the group of Blood and landens that had been cautiously watching the Queen and Verim and Piper. One man stands on the edge, missing an arm and bearing scars that cover most of the left half of his face. ]

Besides, [ He shrugs lightly. ] as much as Grejor and some of the others may not want to admit it, they know Blood society cannot function without a good Queen. Though I doubt many of them realize or appreciate why. Nor could they argue with it when some things started to get better.

[ Glancing at Piper, Verim smiles lightly. ] Those people over there? The ones keeping themselves away from most everyone else, [ He nods to the group containing the man with the missing limb. ] they're just trying to figure out if you walking with me means they can trust you. They're... skittish around strangers.