Marshalling my expression after Arizar's glib comment, I looked the man over again.

Calbern had hinted a couple times that he could discern an awakened's general levels of strength, but I hadn't yet developed that skill.

That the man was awakened was certain, considering he wasn't dressed for the near freezing cold and yet showed no sign of it affecting him. Either that or he had a well hidden enchantment.

Finally, after a few seconds of silence, I answered him. "I am Magus Protectus Percival of Aeternia. These are the lands of the Frost Riven. I do not recognize your claim."

His composure slipped towards contempt as I spoke, eyes narrowed and lips working silently. "That the Frost Riven would turn to a Magus to secure their own skies is a mark against all true-bonded Packs. It is as warchief Vroll said, they have fallen far with the death of Sarpit and the rise of his misbegotten child."

"You know, for a scout, you've got a profound lack of respect," I said, arms crossed. While Arizar's comment hadn't been entirely appropriate, I didn't particularly like him insulting Vaserra. "Vaserra is a good leader, who looks after her people. Who are you?"

"I am, Henri, heir of chief Henri of the Ten Feathers," Henri the second said, thumping his chest with his fist.

"That must be embarrassing for your father," I said, shaking my head. "Having a son who doesn't know basic manners."

"My mother is a great woman," he said, taking a step forward, his eagle shrieking behind him.

"Ah. My mistake. You do share a name," I said, nodding my head in apology.

"A great honor," he said, stopping only two steps in front of me. "One a savage like you would not understand."

"Honestly, I wouldn't have minded being named after my mom either," I said, which seemed to mollify him somewhat, which reminded me that I was supposed to be engaging in diplomacy. "Now, please tell me why you're invading my friend's lands and claiming that you have the right to do so."

There. Very diplomatic.

"It is any Pack's duty to defend the lands they have claimed, and the right of any Pack who can defeat them to take their lands and Sheep as their own," the man said with the sort of cadence of someone reciting something they've repeated often.

"And how does that account for you teaming up with other Packs instead of invading on your own?"

"It is…" he stopped, glancing over his shoulder at his great eagle, as if seeking reassurance from the beast. It tilted its head to the side, eyes locked onto Bevel. After turning forward once more, he took a deep breath. "It is not for the wings to question the head. My mother chooses why we fly. That is enough."

"Great. Don't suppose we could arrange a meeting with her? Somewhere neutral, maybe? Would love to settle this without having to slaughter a bunch of misguided folk," I said, barely holding back from straight out calling them idiots.

It wasn't their people I wanted to spare, so much. If we allowed it to escalate into full on conflict, people on both sides would die. And time very much favored us. Another year, another Howling season with hundreds of ensouled making use of the abundant mana… yeah, if they gave us that much time, they'd find mine and Vaserra's lands nigh impenetrable. Even more so if we could figure out what the heck the diagnostic chamber was telling us for her advancement. 'Say the words,' wasn't as clear as the chamber seemed to think it was.

"My mother would never-"

He was interrupted by his own eagle screeching at him. Turning back, he stared at the eagle for several seconds before letting out a huff and turning to meet my gaze. "Very well. I shall talk to the great Henri. If she approves, we shall meet on this peak at high sun two days from now."

"Just to be clear, that's midday, right?" I asked, honestly surprised he'd agreed. Even more surprised that he'd done so at the behest of his eagle.

Smarter than I'd originally assumed, that bird.

"Yes," he replied tersely before breaking into a run back towards said eagle. After mounting up, he looked back, eyes moving between each of us before locking on Bevel for several long seconds.

Then he and his eagle pushed off, reminding me of Inertia.

"Well, he was rather pleasant, for a piece of broken flint," Arizar said once the three eagles had disappeared into the north. "At least he wasn't one feather short of a full wing."

"Broken flint?" Bevel asked, brow scrunched.

"His sharp features, I'd imagine," I said, my own gaze shifting about the empty peak.

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"For a part. He was a man with many chips on his shoulder, yet he does not let them rule him," Arizar said, taking a step towards the gliders. "It's an old saying I read once. Don't think I've ever had occasion to use it before."

"Do you read a lot?" Bevel asked, rubbing her foot on the carving she'd been making.

Neither Arizar or I replied as we studied her work.

Bevel hadn't stopped throughout our entire conversation and there was now a rather good likeness of the three of us carved into a circle. I couldn't help but note how similar it was to an old family picture that hung on the mini-fridge inside my Memory Palace. While I'd long ago blacked out the face of my old man with a blow torch, it was the only picture I had of my mom, so it'd always had a place of pride.

Finally, Arizar shook her head, her face strangely blank. "I do, yes. Or rather, I used to. I haven't had much time for reading since joining our little kingdom."

Bevel nodded, hand on her glider. "I only started reading after uncle Calbern taught me. Papa reads to me too, sometimes, though it's more fun to work on stuff, so I don't ask as much anymore."

I'd noticed we'd been doing reading sessions less lately, though I'd thought she just found them embarrassing now that she was a teenager. But, of course, just cause she'd suddenly grown up physically didn't mean everything had changed.

"Perhaps we should move on? There was one more well, was there not?" Arizar asked, hand hesitating on the straps of her own glider.

"About that. Bevel, I think we should hold off on that last mana well. If there's a possibility we can talk… well, the well's not going anywhere."

"It's okay," Bevel said, stepping away from her glider to take my hand, leaning against my side. "It's been fun."

"It has," I agreed, ruffling her hair with my free hand.

"Also, I already unlocked my third slot at the keep, so I don't think it'll do much. That trick with the bubbles was way more useful than the keep," Bevel added casually. "Get the feeling I need to spend some time back home figuring things out."

"Of course you did," I said, huffing out a half laugh while shaking my head.

We got back into our gliders, though before we headed back, we flew just far enough north to see the gathering clans. There weren't many yet. In fact, there were only three distinct tribes I could see represented. And none were the Panthers, Serpents or Bears.

Amusingly, the Eagles didn't seem to be camping with the rest of the clans either.

Thozgar had said they weren't the most united of people, but I couldn't help but feel this proved it.

If they didn't have three tier-4's coming, I doubted we'd have much trouble scaring them off. Nexxa alone could probably do so.

If the chief of the Ten Feathers was open to negotiations, maybe we could use them as a contact to those who weren't bearing a personal grudge. In theory, that meant the Serpent clan and Bear clan, leaving only the Panther clan's leader. Was pretty sure Nexxa could handle a single tier-4 bonded.

We spotted a patrol of the Frost Riven below, fighting off a force of men mounted on goats. Despite being outnumbered five to one, the Frost Riven were driving the invaders back.

It wasn't with pure power. A casual inspection revealed most of the combatants were displaying the prowess of a tier-2 bonded. Which meant the Frost Riven weren't just outnumbered, they were outpowered. It didn't stop them from using their superior speed, skill and determination to drive the goat riders away.

That they were all faces I recognized as having once ridden behind the departed Sarpit… I glanced over at Arizar, somehow reminded briefly of Lindsey. Wasn't like I'd never made poor choices.

I was both thankful and regretting that Arizar and my time together would be coming to an end soon. It would be nice to spend time with Tamrie again. And with Overflow nearly ready to have people move in, soon Arizar would be too busy for time with me too.

Which was probably for the best. I needed more time with Tamrie.

Flying was, once again, proving to give me too much time to think. I shifted my attention outward, to where several Tethered flying over the peaks on the edge of Cape Aeternia were patrolling. They tilted their wings in greeting as we passed by, which we returned.

It wasn't long after that we landed on Mount Aeternia.

Instead of the quick goodbye I'd been planning, Arizar stepped out of her glider with a wide smile. "That was a most enjoyable outing. We should make a habit of these. Perhaps once a month?" Arizar said even as she tapped an engraved rune in the center of her glider.

An enchantment that had been there the whole time that I hadn't even noticed. Funny how easy it was for little details like that to slip past no matter how closely I inspected something.

As the glider folded itself into a small cylinder of tightly wrapped leather, Bevel replied, "That'd be fraying awesome! Can we, Papa?"

"I…" I looked between the two, both of them looking back. Bevel with obvious desire, and Arizar with a patient understanding. A sort of inevitability settled in my gut. There was only so much distance I'd be able to maintain with her. I just… "I'll need to talk to Tamrie. Maybe she can come next time."

Bevel nodded, brow scrunched in thought.

"That would be delightful," Arizar said, smile as radiant as ever as she picked up the rolled up glider and stored it in her inventory.

It would really help my desire to keep away from her if she didn't have so many useful things to learn. Or if she could just be unpleasant. If she fought with Bevel instead of getting her. Or if she'd not be such a good friend to Tamrie.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead as the three of us descended. Arizar had mentioned how Henri junior hadn't been a feather short. I was starting to feel like I might just be short the feather I needed.

Should I tell Tamrie everything I'd been dealing with? Really wished I had Calbern to talk to. He'd be able to… actually, had the old man ever had a lasting relationship? Was pretty sure he'd mentioned that his longest romantic relationship had lasted a little over a month before ending in a duel to the death.

An exciting story, but maybe he wasn't the best person to ask.

Who could I talk to about this? Someone who'd keep it private but had success with their relationships?

"Hey boss, good trip?" Tanis asked, breaking me out of my thoughts as we entered the main crystal chamber.

I stared at Tanis for several long seconds. Should I talk to…

"It was… eventful," I said, looking towards Arizar and Bevel who'd fallen into conversation about… the cute boy who'd been on one of the other eagles?

"Events are good, boss. Usually. Been having a few too many events at home lately, with the ladies," Tanis said, shaking his head.

"Why don't we go get a drink, and you tell me all about it?" I said, latching onto the idea with a fervor that surprised me.

"You sure, boss? You wanna listen to my problems?"

"At the moment, Tanis, I think I need to."

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