Lazek Oberon remained quiet for a long time, his gaze fixed on the sharp eyes of the Overlord.
The silence between the two men was absolute, broken only by the distant, muffled thrum of the ancient tree's life force and the occasional whistle of the wind through the high-altitude canopy.
The Fleshcrafter did not look like a man considering a request. He looked like a predator measuring the depth of a trap. Rivaldo's suggestion that Kale stay within the Greenroot Guild was logical, even protective, but Lazek loathed being told where to place his pieces on the board.
Eventually, he let out a long, weary sigh that seemed to carry the weight of his recent border travels.
"I will stay for a few days and think about it," Lazek said, his voice flat and drained of its usual sharp edge. "But please do not mistake it as my compliance, Sir Rivaldo. If I decide the capital is safer, then I will take him even if you disagree."
