Cassian requested the private audience on a Monday, which was already different from his previous visits because this time there was no official pretext attached to the request. No royal inspection. No administrative review. Just a brief, formally worded message asking whether I might have an hour available at my convenience, without the Duke's presence if that could be arranged.
Without the Duke's presence. That was the operative phrase.
I told Darius about the request that evening.
"He wants a separate channel," Darius said.
"Yes," I said. "The question is whether the separate channel serves us or only him."
"That depends on what he offers and what he asks for."
"I think he will offer a genuine partnership," I said. "Not the manipulation he tried at the beginning. He has recalculated."
"And what does a genuine partnership with Cassian cost us?" Darius asked.
