Maeron walked the upper corridor with Seraphine and Verena. None of them had spoken since leaving Rivena behind, the quiet came with them all the way toward the family hall.
Verena broke it first. Her face stayed composed and the anger sat plainly under her voice.
"Your father could have told Rivena privately that she wasn't coming. Instead he sent a maid into the room and made certain the three of us heard it."
Seraphine kept her fan closed in one hand as she walked. "Valttair wanted the thing understood. Rivena is restricted, and he has no intention of pretending otherwise because a Council is coming."
"That does not make what he is doing to her any easier to swallow."
Maeron glanced at Verena before he looked ahead again. "Then don't swallow it. Only don't hand him a reason to tighten her leash before we're ready."
Verena said nothing to that. By the time they reached the doors, Maeron had put the subject aside and turned his mind to what waited on the other side of them.
