And now, after witnessing them together, knowing who they were, he understood it.

Cassius held his gaze a long moment.

And then he nodded.

More wine was brought, and the men did not avoid discussing politics now that Elena was not with them.

They argued agreeably, if at times heatedly, for some time, alternately watching the women dance or glancing to where they had set up their own cocoon of cushions to laze upon, drink wine and chat when the music slowed after much more wine had flowed.

Cassius did not miss Elena drooping.

He also did not miss when her eyes closed.

Silvanus’s woman gently took the chalice she still held in her hand away, and still Elena did not wake.

“My bride needs her tent,” Cassius murmured.

“And mine needs my cock,” Silvanus replied.

The men stood, and when Cassius offered his hand, Silvanus looked at it, seeming perplexed for a moment, before he grasped Cassius’s forearm in a tight grip.

Cassius returned the odd clasp.

“I do not know king or prince, outside our True, who would extend his royal hand to a Zee,” Silvanus said, not letting go.

“I am not prince or king you have met, until now,” Cassius replied.

“And I am glad of the meeting.” Silvanus extended his free arm wide over his head. “It has been our pleasure to host you in our home.” He gripped tighter, dropping his other arm “And I hope we meet again, my friend.”

“That pleasure was mine, and I have the same hope, my brother,” Cassius returned, meaning it and seeing Silvanus knew it.

Thus Silvanus, quick to do so often, did it again, this being smiling broadly.

They gripped each other’s flesh for another moment before they let go.

He walked to the women, who did not appear ready to break up as the men did, going directly to Elena, though doing it nodding respectfully to the others.

He received their return nods, and when Elena didn’t wake, simply mewed when he gently shook her shoulder, he equally gently lifted her in his arms.

A true warrior would not allow this, even after wine, battle, dancing and worry.

Unless she was entirely comfortable in the company she kept.

She knew the Zees were no real threat from the start.

She knew a great many things.

Including how to handle herself in a variety of situations.

Many of them, much better than even he.

Her head fell on his shoulder, sliding forward, so her forehead rested against the side of his neck.

She felt heavy at the same time light in his arms.

Warm against his chest.

And her smell was bloody heaven.

One of the women came to him, and careful not to wake Elena in the doing, put his princess’s staff in Cass’s hand.

Ready to go, he turned to Silvanus and bent slightly at the waist.