Page 469

"Thank you."

"You asked."

"I didn't."

"Still true."

I fold my arms. "What would you have done?"

"Stayed behind the inner line."

"Even with the ward failing?"

"Especially."

"Why."

"Because everyone was looking at you." There it is. "If you fall, twelve people lose direction."

"I know."

"Now."

"Yes."

"Good."

I look toward the board. "Three casualties."

"Simulation."

"Could've been real."

"Yes."

"I waited too long to abandon west."

"Yes."

"You're incredibly supportive."

"You want praise?"

"No."

"Good." I glare. "You adapted." I stop. Rhyven looks toward the examination field. "Every time something failed, you changed."

"Sometimes late."

"Yes."

"Sometimes wrong."

"Yes."

"But?"

He looks at me. "You're waiting for compliments again."