But now, much had been lost.

It was not time to nurse grudges and nurture rifts.

It was time to hold all that was dear as close as you could get it.

She was once like a second mother to me.

Losing my own as I did and all that came before, I did not know if we would get that back.

I just knew I no longer intended to nurse grudges and nurture rifts.

Her face softened as she read these were my thoughts before she raised her brows.

I bit my lip.

She tipped her chin nary an inch to share I should pull myself together.

I did just that and stopped biting my lip.

“We do not hang those who transgress in Go’Doan,” Aron returned.

Oh no.

“We also do not slaughter them publicly,” he went on.

True’s attention was no longer acute.

It was infuriated.

I caught myself from reaching my hand out to take his.

But when I thought True would speak, instead, Noctorno did.

“I would caution you to remember that tragic events have very recently passed and there are those at this table who have suffered much because of them. There is no one here who believes the people true to your faith are behind them. That is not the issue. The issue is stopping those who are perpetrating these acts from doing anything further.”

“Right now, for the Go’Doan,” Aron retorted, his attention turning to True, “the issue is that we’ve received alarming reports that violence is freely being practiced against our priests here in Wodell as well as our followers in this realm. From children throwing stones at priests to our temple being burned to the ground in Ramsay. Thus, I must repeat my request that you send soldiers, as soon as can be arranged, to guard our sacred sites and keep safe the men who speak our faith but also tend to your ill and educate your children.”

“And I’ll happily do so,” True replied casually, though I knew from a thread in his voice that there was nothing casual at all about this.

Aron appeared astonished and sat back, saying, “Well then.”

“When you give me the names of all known members of this Rising in Wodell, Firenze, Airen, the Dome City or anywhere,” True carried on.

Aron sat forward and snapped, “You can’t possibly ask that.”

“I just did,” True pointed out.

“These men can be reconditioned,” Aron retorted.

“From what we know, these men conspired to kill my mother, my wife’s mother, Queen Elpis’s husband, Ophelia’s lieutenant, and at Catrame Palace, at the very least, my cousin, but with the number of attackers, it was clear their intent was to wreak havoc in the royal houses of five realms. And I know I don’t need to remind you, three of those assassinations were successful, and one of them nearly so.”

“So you wish us to betray our fellow believers by handing them over to you so you can butcher them?” Aron demanded.