His eyes lingered on Razeal. And against his will, he felt a flicker of amusement ripple through his chest.
"My daughter…" the old man murmured, his deep voice rolling like distant thunder. Despite the spikes that pinned him, he smiled faintly as his sharp eyes lingered on Razeal as if waiting for kind of response.
The boy's smile widened in return, his lips curling with mischievous ease. "Oh, I think she'd love to take a little trip with her father," Razeal replied smoothly. "Quite the surprise, don't you think? A gift worthy of her patience. And tell me, what could be better than showing her the most beautiful city in the world.. one so few land-dwellers have ever laid eyes on?"
The words hit their mark. For the first time, the old man's gaze flickered.. not with suspicion, but with interest. A glint lit his dark eyes, the faintest spark of longing buried deep within.
Razeal noticed it instantly. He pressed harder.
