"Not always."
"Good." The king's answer came without hesitation. "I would be more concerned if you had told me otherwise."
Opaline glanced between them, looking somewhat less nervous now that the conversation had moved away from her family. She took another bite of food, though she continued to pay attention.
Odesto's expression became thoughtful as he turned his cup between his fingers. "There is another person I have wondered about since the council."
Lancet felt the direction of the conversation changing before the name was spoken.
"What of Spectra?" Odesto asked. "How is the Great Mother of Demons faring?"
Lancet nearly swallowed his drink the wrong way.
He coughed once, turning his face aside, and reached for his napkin. The interruption was brief, but it was enough to make Opaline pause with her fork in hand. She looked at him, then at the king, and quickly lowered her eyes to her plate.
Odesto waited patiently.
Lancet cleared his throat. "She's fine, Your Majesty."
