Greatwater Lake weightless

He had hoped that this time would be of silence, but Nazli did not allow to be so.

Staring off into the dim distance, his ears were risen by the sound of her question.

Sighing, his shoulders shifted slightly, rolling in contempt. But he would answer none the less. Makono made a decree that I was to bed the nebet Diantha and conceive her season's brood. Perhaps I would have even been made to marry her. The topic created yet another lump in his throat. It was a bitter taste, and difficult to swallow. I refused. I told Makono that I would not bed a woman I did not love. There had only been two he had ever loved, and Diantha was not one of them.

Words were shared... foul ones, at that. But I will spare you the boring details. Whether he regretted what had been said or not, he would not dwell on it now.

Rising, he would turn to face Nazli. As if the conversation had never occurred, his facade glazed over, hardening. Come, and stay close— He intended to escort her to the lake so that she could bathe, as promised. The hour will grow late soon. I don't know who else has stuck with the lake claim, but I don't trust any of them. Not unless they had been put in their place by him.