This was true.

But I was stung.

“It is not easy, what destiny has tasked us to do,” he said carefully, his warm brown eyes on my face just as cautious. “So many see the castles, the grandeur, the riches, and think they have all the answers so it will not be difficult to live in luxury and rule. They do not see the decisions we make have ramifications, in some cases, for centuries. And thus, we must weigh them to the utmost of our abilities before we carry them through.”

He was very right, and until that day, seeing Mercy seated in her pew, staring unseeing at the vaulted ceilings of that temple, arrows protruding from her bloodied chest and throat, I hated to admit it, but I couldn’t escape it…

I had felt I had all the answers.

I as well had no problem sharing I felt as such.

And now, I was not nearly as certain.

I nodded to what Aramus had said.

My husband continued speaking.

“Thus, I understand your hesitance in providing guidance. When there seems nothing at stake, it is easy to offer your opinion. But when you realize just how much weight any decision carries, I fully understand why you would hesitate.” He shook his head. “But this is not the time for hesitation, my Ha-Lah. Do we give all we have to one, while protecting our own shores? Or do we divide ourselves amongst many…?” He grinned. “While protecting our own shores.”

At his encouragement, it took a moment, but I reflected, then I waded in.

“I do not think this Go’Doan faction has a hold in our realm, Aramus,” I noted.

“I wish to agree, but with all that has happened, can we take that chance?”

I grew silent for I did not think we could.

I broke my silence and shared, “We are too long gone from our own realm, my king. These delays mean we will not be gone three to four months, but much longer. We’ve already been away three and with what’s happening with Airen, we cannot know when Cassius and Elena will wed.”

His eyebrows went up. “Abandon them all and go home?”

“No,” I replied. “As we have seen, and from what Serena shared, the situation in Wodell and Firenze is insidious. What you could offer them is ships to sail their rivers, or provide presence at ports, perhaps men to bear arms, but what they need is spies. Our skin is not the same color as theirs, not to mention, none of our people, to our knowledge, practice this religion. Our people have no hope of successfully spying on this Rising.”

“Mm,” he hummed.

“On the other hand,” I continued, “we can offer significant assistance in Sky Bay. Even if just to bring food and supplies. You can’t lay siege to a city that is fed and watered and whose citizens that need to leave can do so, just aboard a ship.”

“This makes sense,” he murmured.