“I couldn’t agree more.”
Exile had done for Jarryn what it had not for Leander. Jarryn had accepted his exile and grown as a result of it. Leander, on the other hand, had become resentful and had withered instead. He didn’t even need to be able to read Verin’s thoughts to know that, he could see it plain as day.
He was glad, for once, to be rid of Aesthesia, because Leander did not want to see what Verin saw when he looked at him.
But it went deeper than simply duty. Leander had come to care for Jarryn. He knew it and so now did Verin.
Verin allowed a smile to grace his features as he, so softly touching the other’s mind, saw the truth of the younger Talius’ heart. “Good.”
Leander had knownthat Verin wouldn’t be hard to persuade. Recruiting Venser, even if this task was an official missive, to help Leander was the difficult part.
Venser agreed to meet with Verin, but when he saw Leander sitting at the table, face hidden by his hands holding his head up, he was far from impressed with Verin’s subterfuge to get him to meet at the house.
“No.” Venser hissed.
“Venser—”
“This boy is a disgrace, it’s a wonder the family and itsreputation has not been destroyed by his actions. You should not be consorting with him.” Venser was gesticulating violently as he spoke. “If our father sees him here, he will lose it.”
“That’s an unfair assumption, son.”
Three heads snapped to the door to see Flavian leaning against the doorframe examining his fingernails with an air of complete disinterest.
He did not look apoplectic, but that didn’t make Leander feel any safer.
“It seems our young Leander feels responsibility… maybe even some guilt,” Flavian uttered, unmoving. “It only took you a year.”
Leander raised his chin, staring at his father as if daring him to have him thrown back in the cells.
“Father, we have a limited amount of time to?—”
“I know exactly that it is you are preparing to do, Verin. Whether it is wise or foolish to bring Leander with you remains to be seen. I fear he will be more of a hindrance than help, but it is not my directive to find our guest and rescue him.”
Leander glanced between Flavian and Verin, knowing there was a silent conversation happening between them.
For the first time in his life, he prayed. He prayed Flavian wouldn’t convince his brother to leave him behind.
Soon, it seemed their arcane conversation ended. Flavian caught Leander in a calculating stare. Then he pushed himself off the wall and left the room, a silent blessing for the three brothers to continue with their scheming.
“Fine,” Venser broke the silence after a few moments. “But we are not going to storm the palace at Desanne with three men—two of which have no combat experience and one of whom has no arcane powers and is subsequently useless!”
“He is coming, Venser, please do not attempt to change my mind.”
Leander felt a rush of warmth for his eldest brother, overwhelmed with gratitude because he could not sit on his arse and read a book while other people went on a dangerous mission to save his prince.
“But I agree, the three of us are not enough for this little venture. King Caisa asked me to lead this, I am sure he is expecting me to find some sort of a diplomatic solution. I see no such solution coming to mind, so it will need to be combative and covert. Venser, do you have any men in mind? We already have six of Jarryn’s own, waiting outside the city limits, according to Leander.”
Venser considered for a moment before nodding his head in confirmation.
“Good. Collect those men, swear them to secrecy, then bring them to me. We don’t have long—Jarryn has been gone for two days already. I want this plan to be hashed out and see us leaving the city tonight.”
“Don’t forget to water the horses and prepare them for immediate departure,” Leander called at Venser’s retreating back.
Venser paused in his exit, as if debating telling Leander exactly where he could stick it. But the man did not turn around, instead continuing on his way to do as bid by his brothers.
The two of them alone again, Leander glanced over atVerin. “Thank you for defending me, brother. But Venser may be right. I am not sure how much help I can be on this mission.”
“You let me worry about that.” Verin did not look up from the map he had previously laid across the table, moving his finger from point to point. “Now, you have been on the road for some seven days and by the grace of the Nine do you smell like it. Go and have a bath. I will have a set of clean clothes laid out for you.”
