"I am not the king anymore," he said. "I am a member of the council now, and soon I will retire to Silver City. Do you understand? My power is not what it once was. My reach is not what it once was. What am I supposed to do to help them? Issue decrees they will ignore? Only you can help them, Damien. Only you."
He took another step closer, his eyes boring into his son's. "So for the goddess's sake, tell me where the girl is. Do what you have to do to save your wife's life. Your child's life. And yours."
Damien turned to face Lucivar fully then. His eyes, still bloodshot, locked onto his father's with defiance. "You mean…give in to the bond?"
"Yes." The single word was inevitable.
