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Tavi studied him for another reason Fidelias looked different than Valiar Marcus Oh, his features hadn't changed, though Tavi supposed they radually, should Fidelias wish to reassu subtler than that, and much deeper The way he spoke was part of it Marcus had always sounded like an intelligent iven little education, a hard-nosed and capable soldier Fidelias's voice was sant and precise Marcus had always held hiidity, and ion ar any Fidelias looked like a orous etic and contained

Then Tavi hit on it, the real thing that separated Valiar Marcus fro

Oh, it wasn't a grin In fact, one could hardly tell it was a smile at all But Tavi could definitely see it in some subtle shift of theof the lines at the corners of his eyes He looked content He looked like a man who hadthe guards tasked atching hi the man like a hawk Fidelias ex Cursori had lived a lifetierous, treacherous line of work It had erous - and treacherous - individual

"Our next step," Tavi told hiather whatever information Cyricus has that we don't We'll use it to plan our next ical," Fidelias said

Tavi nodded "I'd like you to be present"

Fidelias arched an eyebrow and glanced up at him "Is that an order?"

"No," Tavi said "It would be less What would I do if you refused? Put you to death?"

Fidelias's eyes wrinkled at their corners "Ah, true"

"It is a request You have ht into the thinking behind the current leadership of the main Aleran forces I would value your advice"

Fidelias pursed his lips "But would you trust it?"

Tavi smiled "Naturally not"