“Not one meant to fence me in.”

It took a moment for Cassius to reply with unhidden astonishment, “By the gods, you’re being a child.”

“My son had me arrested,” Gallienus sniped.

“You were raping your wife,” Cassis returned.

“She was denying me her body, which is my right to take.”

“You are mistaken for you said it yourself. It’s her body.”

At this juncture, Gallienus took a moment before he replied, also with unhidden astonishment, “How did I go so wrong with you?”

“I do not know, but I thank the gods you did.”

Gallienus glared at him, at me, then back to his son.

“Did you come solely for this affectionate father-son chat?” he asked sarcastically.

“No. I came to share that, if you proclaim your guilt, and your remorse, and assert that you’ve come to understand what you did was wrong as well as your belief this should be abolished throughout our realm and any who perpetrate it punished. Not to mention, you offer public support of the new laws heralded throughout the land, when you are sentenced, you will be sentenced to exile at Bishop Cross.”

Cass had told me this would be his proposition.

I, personally, felt it was too kind. I had heard of Bishop Cross, a small, isolated island off the southeast coast of Airen, very close to Firenze. But it had an old castle there that tales told was quite lovely and the weather was most temperate, sunny skies and warm climes.

It was far from any civilization, both in Airen and Firenze.

But it would be better than this cell.

“I will not do anything that preposterous,” Gallienus spat.

“Then when you are found guilty, facing tribunal in front of courtiers and laymen alike, Father, you will receive an issue five sentence,” Cass warned.

My prince had not shared about these “issues.”

Though, I’d ask about them later.

“As if that will be worse than this,” Gallienus retorted.

“You will not be in this cell. You will have a cell elsewhere and it will be shared. You will sup in the canteen with the other issue five prisoners, who have all demonstrated an extreme propensity for violence. And you will have but one hour out of doors each day.” Cass paused before he concluded, “Though your cell will have a window.”

“This only if my army does not vanquish yours.”

“Your army will not vanquish mine.”

“You do not know how happily the lords of this land jumped at the opportunity to rise up against you and your,” Gallienus jerked his head my way, “Nadirii.”

“So it was you who conspired to break the treaty we signed with all the realms of Triton and your promise to relinquish reign.”

Gallienus looked foiled for a moment before he rallied.

“That’s hardly a surprise.”

“No, it isn’t. Though, when I share with my fellow monarchs how you so swiftly reneged on your promises, I wonder how they will feel, should the impossible happen and your army vanquish mine. You do realize, with the seas freed for use, how very small Triton has become and how very lonely, and trapped, Airen would be if we were the only one suffering under sanctions. I assure you the other realms could do without our olives and wine, our golden salt, even our leather and steel. But no Dellish wool or wheat? No Firenz silk and spices? We could do without, but we cannot do without the coin we earn in return trade.”