“What is it, Zav? You have something to tell me?”
“Not really,” the king said. A moment later he rolled his head down low, eyes piercing up at Balen with a poorly hidden glee. “How strange is that? How wonderful? I don’t have a thing to tell you. You know everything there is to know.”

//

Balen’s own smile faded. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I wanted to,” Zavrius said. He rocked back on his haunches, shrugging. “Because you’re a good man, or because you saved my life. Because of the way the firelight sharpens your cheekbones. Any of those reasons.”


bye