“You are a good man,” she said softly, studying him contemplatively. “It is most odd, do you not think, how a strong and stalwart tree can grow from the seed of a gnarled and diseased one.”

Cassius had no reply, but even if he had nothing to say, that didn’t mean he had no feeling at hearing her words.

He did.

And it was a rare sense of pride, that this great queen would think this of him.

“What you do not understand is that she is quite like you in many ways,” Ophelia carried on. “Especially her skill in selecting those she trusts. You need her to rule by your side, and she will be able to do that. She will not need you to rule by hers, but she’ll need assistance. And she will find that in Hera and Jasmine, specifically Hera. As well as my lieutenants, primarily Melisse. The balance will be hard fought, but from what I know of my daughter, and what I see of you, in the end, it will be won.”

“I see I will not be able to change your mind,” Cass admitted. “And I mean no offense, but as difficult as this will be for my princess and I, I also see no alternative.”

Ophelia gave a single nod, but said, “Serena will need a role, and as to that, I have not decided. Her last communication to me shared she allies with a Firenz Trusted to spy for that country, which caused such deep surprise in me, I cannot express it. So all I can do is hope that such change in all the realms has brought change in my eldest daughter and that I have time to read what that is and make the right decision for her future.”

He could not imagine any change in Serena, but if Chu was affecting that, he was more of a miracle worker than Cassius thought.

“I urge you to take pains to stay well for as long as you can, Ophelia. As you know, we have no idea what we will face. War. The Beast. Go’Doan treachery. Which will come first, and what will come of it.”

She gave a slight shrug. “I have the time I’ll have.”

“Your daughter needs you.”

“I’ll have the time I’ll have, my son,” she said quietly. “No more, no less. When the goddesses call to me, I cannot evade their summons. Now I need to know I have your support. But more, I need to know she will have it.”

“For what it will be worth, you have it,” he promised. “As will Elena.”

Her head tipped to the side.

“These words,” she whispered. “They surprise me. For a man of such skill and intellect, you do not know your own worth. I hope my daughter can help you find your way to understanding the magnitude of that.”