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"Can we take the ring off without hurting her?" he asked.

"Tough to say," Anthiel replied. "I've heard if they're on long enough then taking them off will outright kill the person."

"Beth said the same thing," Ethan added

"So basically," Alana said. "We either risk her life by taking off the ring or condemn her to a life of slavery."

"If it were me, I know what I'd pick," Ethan said. "I'd rather die than be forced to do someone else's bidding for the rest of my life."

Everyone else agreed except Raklan. "I'd take life; you can always escape if you're alive. You can't do nothing if you're dead."

Everyone ignored him.

"So we're agreed then, we'll take the ring off of her?" Ethan asked. Everyone but Raklan nodded. Raklan was too busy stuffing his face with pickles to answer verbally, but the look on his face made his opinion clear enough.

"Better sooner than later," Anthiel said.

Ethan nodded, wolfed down the last bite of salt pork, and stood up.

"Serif, Raklan; you're on watch duty," An