Erik raised an eyebrow in surprise as his hammer arced through the air towards his opponent's chest. The blow was heavy, but he was still holding back a little, so Nobuntu blocked his attack with relative ease by using her blood aegis again.
"You'll have to forgive me for being sceptical," he told her with some disbelief. "What could be so bad that you'd not only subordinate yourself to a man you've never met before, but also entrust the future of your family and tribe to him? I hear shapeshifters are a tolerated minority in Azania."
"For now…" Nobuntu growled bitterly. She once again made a scarlet whip appear in her hand and lashed it at Erik in an easily deflected pattern. "One of the other two elders, Sipho Dlamini, is actively working to disparage shapeshifters more. What few vampires still live within our borders are already no more than slaves, and Sipho wants the same for my people."
