Radeon had slept enough. He sat up, rolled his shoulders until the stiffness gave, then smoothed his robe and tugged the seams back into place.
A thin wash of qi chased grime from his skin and freshened his breath, the kind of small refinement mortals mistook for miracle.
Fay had been awake until the first crack of dawn. Her blond hair had come loose in places, a little wild from wind and long hours, but it was not the mess that caught Radeon's eye.
She had changed. She stood straighter. She did not flinch when men stared.
When they pressed her with questions, she chose safe answers without sounding frightened, and she did it again and again.
Radeon watched it through half lidded eyes, letting her notice him and Claudius speaking back them, letting her feel how words carried weight.
When she saw him properly awake, Fay brought him a list.
Radeon took it, scanned it, and felt a small surprise prick his chest. He gave Fay a single nod. Approval. Earned.
