"The War God," I say.
Renan's attention snaps to me, still grinning. "Right. Caius. In your study. Has been for an hour. Getting twitchy about it, too. Doesn't like to be kept waiting. It offends his sense of importance."
"Mm."
I cross to the sideboard where there's fruit and pick up a fig, biting into it.
"Did you hear me?" Renan says. "Caius. War God. Your study. Waiting."
"I heard you."
"And?"
I chew and swallow. Iowyn is hovering near the door, watching, and I can feel her attention on my back.
"I'm taking Iowyn to the bathhouse," I say.
Renan blinks. "Now?"
"Now."
"The War God is in your study. Right now. To make war plans. Plans he's been waiting an hour to discuss." Renan's eyes are bright. "And you want to—"
"Bathe. Yes."
He stares at me and I take another bite of the fig.
"Oh, this is going to be fun." He swings his legs down from the chair arm, leaning forward. "Can I watch when you tell him? I want to see his face."
"I'm not telling him. You are."
"Absolutely not." But he's still grinning. "I want to see his face, not be the one he puts his fist through. You go tell him yourself."
"Fine."
I drop the fig on the sideboard and move toward the door that leads to my study. Renan scrambles up.
"Wait—you're actually going to—"
I push the door open.
Caius is standing by the window, arms crossed, radiating that particular brand of violence he carries everywhere. He turns when I enter.
"Discord," he says. "Finally. I've been—"
"Something came up." I lean against the doorframe. "I'll find you in an hour. Maybe two."
His expression flattens. "We have war plans to discuss."
"We do."
"Plans that cannot wait."
"They can wait an hour."
"Discord—"
"Or two." I push off the doorframe. "Your guest chambers. I'll find you."
