"What?" Bala asked.
Lex laughed. "Nothing, I only wish he were here to hear this conversation," she said.
"You can't actually let him know we're terrified of him," Bala said. "He'd never shut up about it."
Nadir crossed his arms over his chest. "As I said, I'm not ready to die. I've a lot of things left on my list to do."
"Like what, Commander?" Bala asked.
"Like getting my Princess back.”
Bala exchanged a smile with Lex, who seemed to share her amusement. "You really need to tell her," she said.
A long sigh left him, and he shook his head. "She will do what she needs to do to prove to herself that she is worthy of her crown, and when she's ready, she'll let me love her. Until then, I will stand by her side as I promised her I would."
"You're adorable," Bala mocked.
"There's something else I need your help with," Nadir said.
"More than what you've already asked of me?" Bala countered.
Nadir stared at her, and the weight of whatever was on his mind became visible in his eyes.
"Fine," she surrendered. "What is it?"
"It's meeting night," he said. "I haven't told them about Nyssa."
"Not even Lovi?"
He shook his head.
"Why not? They should know she's risking her life for them."
"Because the last she was here, they called her worthless to her face and more. They didn't trust her."
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Stand by my side and tell them who she is."
Bala's weight shifted. "Why haven't you done that?"
"Because they're all smart enough to see how I feel about her. They think I'm simply favoring her because of that. We gave each other up to counter it, but they know."
Bala glanced outside to the setting sun. "When is the meeting?"
"Now."
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER of his people had already gathered in their main tent, all sitting at tables set up, settling from eating the meal that had been served. Lovi stayed out of these meetings, saying it was not his Age or affairs to intervene with.
Nadir sat at the front of the room, with Bala and Lex on either side. Nadir quieted the room after Bala had acknowledged a few friends.
Explaining why the meeting had been called seemed to be more difficult for the Commander than she'd ever witnessed. Every word seemed forced, as though saying it aloud made it a reality he didn't want to come to terms with.
"Surprised you didn't storm the castle to bring her home," Soli muttered as she sank back in her chair once Nadir had finished talking.
"I trust her to do that herself," Nadir affirmed.
