"May I speak plainly, Your Majesty?" Laheir asked.
"You may," came the king's response.
"Did you truly mean what you said in the throne room?"
"If you're referring to when I said Ragnar would make a good leader, then yes," Zeriel replied evenly. "He's proven that fact many times over, all on his own. Good work deserves recognition, don't you think?"
"But the nobles are talking," Laheir said gravely. "Rumors are spreading faster than usual." He remained bowed as he spoke, and when he finally straightened, the solemnity in his expression mirrored the weight of his words.
"I'm sure they are. It's what they do best, after all," Zeriel replied offhandedly. He barely spared Laheir a glance as he stood on his wide balcony, his gaze fixed on the bustling activity below, the steady flow of guards and servants moving through the palace grounds.
