The air didn't feel as suffocating as it had yesterday for Zarius. Cherion was awake. That mattered. After three endless days of nothing, the quiet had started to hurt. Now, for the first time in days, Zarius could take a full breath.
He'd been meticulous about the recovery process, obsessive, even. He had hand-picked the new attendant, a choice that had raised a few eyebrows among the senior staff. Reiner, Flio's younger brother, was... well, he was a lot. The boy was a sunbeam trapped in a bottle, radiating a brand of relentless, high-octane enthusiasm that usually made Zarius want to retreat into a dark room. But for Cherion? It was perfect. Cherion needed life, not more shadows. He needed someone who could match his warmth without wilting under the biting frost of Valtrane.
"With all due respect, Your Grace... are you absolutely certain this is the right move? Going out there, I mean."
