“I would love to hear your recommendation of who else to send, as you’ve yet to find me a replacement for the Weapon’s Master you arrested behind my back.”

He inhaled, letting it out to the count of five. “I brought Lesta in for questioning, as I’ve previously informed you, and released him directly after. He’s been back in the training yard ever since and is more than capable of working with a bunch of eastern farmers.”

“Last I checked, Prince Eithan, I make the final decisions in my city. And until I decide his fate for doing the opposite of what I demanded he do with the Magyki heir, you will go in his stead.”

There was a pregnant pause as they stared at one another, each testing the other’s mask to see who, if either, would break first.

“Vera trusts me. It is vital I be here when she returns to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Sulian’s expression hardened. “Don’t patronize me by insinuating I require a mediator. I kept her in line for over a decade, boy.”

Eithan bowed his head, sliding his hand in his pocket and gripping the vial. “I meant no disrespect. But she has her abilities now. She will not be so easily controlled.”

“Says the boy who couldn’t manipulate her for a single night even when she was without them. I stand by my order.” Sulian sat back again, steepling his hands over his chest.

“Not that it will matter in the long run,” he added, shrugging. “You’ll be lucky if you live to see a handful more moons, let alone marry her.”

Eithan forced his muscles to go lax, crossing one leg over the other and resting a hand over his knee. “Is that a threat, Father?”

Sulian scoffed, glancing out the window to the darkened landscape. “Don’t be daft. It doesn’t suit you.” He cut his eyes back over. “Do you really think Vesstan Arenaris will accept our role in his daughter’s disappearance? That he’ll happily accept that his only child was kept here on Aleron and do nothing about it?”

He had to force his body to stay languid and not jut forward. Aleron couldn’t afford a war with Bhasura. Not yet. Not without adequate leverage. “You expect him to launch an attack over it?”

“No, he wouldn’t risk unintentionally divulging just how weakened Bhasura is now. He won’t start a war he isn’t guaranteed to win.” His blue eyes darted back to Eithan, flaring in time with his smile. “He’s more likely to send assassins to kill us in our sleep.”

“Comforting.”

“Indeed.”

“And what do you believe he will do once his heir willingly returns?”

The sound of Sulian’s calluses scraping over his beard was the only sound as he seemed to ponder Eithan’s question. “If you are correct about Veralie Arenaris, her actions will not be done with his permission.”

Eithan nodded, having already figured as much on his own. If King Vesstan was anything like Sulian, there was no way he’d allow his only heir to run free. Not when it wouldn’t benefit him.