Lorenz took a drink of his wine before he sat back in his chair and stated, “Carrington. The traitor counsellor to Wilmer. He’s been stealing from their coffers for decades. They could not trace where that currency went. Carrington is likely now dead. If he’s hidden it, and not shared its whereabouts, The Rising will not have access to it.”

Tedrey nodded.

“And any crusade such as this needs funding,” Lorenz continued. “Not to mention, for the most part, soldiers expect to be paid. Since learning Carrington was embezzling, we suspected it was for these reasons.”

“Of course,” Tedrey muttered.

“This is good, Teddy,” Lorenz noted. “I can send communication to True. He can focus efforts. This mention means there’s coin left. If he finds it before they do, he can return it to his realm’s reserves. He can then start his reign with a success that will be popular and make him appear crafty, wise, resourceful and strong. Not to mention, not having coin, especially the vastness of what they had, will significantly weaken their cause.”

Tedrey felt a thrill at this, a thrill that settled as warmth in his stomach.

He did not know Prince…no, King True. But Tedrey was Dellish from birth, and he was surprised that it meant something to him that his country and its ruler could grow stronger in some part because of what Tedrey had learned.

And if that coinage was found, it would be a blow to The Rising, possibly a grave one.

Yes, that warmth settled in his stomach.

“Faunus has requested to come visit,” Lorenz drawled, overly casually.

His friend was very good at a great number of things.

He was very bad at matchmaking.

So bad, Tedrey nearly smiled.

Knowing he had to say what he had to say next, he did not.

“It is not safe. I’m being watched. You know this.”

“I do,” Lorenz agreed. “However, I am a general and he is a soldier. It would not be unusual he was to attend me at my home.”

“Lorenz—”

His friend lifted his hand and dropped it. “If you feel it is a risk you cannot take, then I understand. But Faunus worries about you. I tell him repeatedly you are doing well, but he is deaf to the words. He wishes to see with his own eyes you’re handling this as you are handling it.” His voice dipped. “He cares for you, amico, greatly. You did not ask my advice, but I share it with you regardless. I would give him that.”

Tedrey wanted to give Faunus that.

He wanted it very much.

But he needed to do what he was doing.

He had wrongs to right and doing something solely for himself was not the road to take to achieve that aim.

That said, if Faunus was worried…

“Perhaps, when I feel I have won over more than Fenn. I am not trusted by them, Lorenz. With the way Fenn stopped discussion about this treasury, I see I do not even have his full trust. They follow me. They watch me. They are not comfortable speaking in front of me. They are in disarray. There is discord and not a small amount of anxiety around the capture and execution of Carrington and the defeat at The Enchantments. Seph moved forward with a great amount of hubris, but it was Fenn’s plot to assassinate the Dellish queen and attack The Enchantments as it was done. If I can ingratiate myself in this cadre in Fire City, as they plan for future campaigns, the information I would be privy to could be crucial in thwarting them.”