It had never been a simple plan, and Vali had foreseen all the challenges she'd have to circumvent way before the idea had even budded inside her head.
How exactly did the plan come to be?
Pherdanta's show of dominance was one thing. Vali couldn't stand just how far above her the noble swordswoman was, but she could respect it. What she couldn't stand was Kintar's obnoxious arrogance.
You were keen on fighting in an echelon of power far above you, so stay and fight, the Mage had said condescendingly to her and Maxim. The gall!
That was when Vali thought about the gamble and explained it to Maxim. A simple plan it was to understand, but Maxim had turned ashen at the details.
