The second-in-command knight said at once, "A warship would send the wrong message."
He turned to face the Grand Duke.
"Sailing in armed steel would be no different from announcing an invasion," Eric said firmly. "We are not seeking to intimidate or provoke. One wrong move, and the Mederians may interpret our arrival as hostility and respond in kind."
"What's the concern?" Eli asked. "The clans cannot harm us while His Highness the Grand Duke is onboard. They are bound by oath to protect the Khasif and her soulmate, which means they wouldn't be able to raise a hand against us."
Eric's gaze flicked briefly to the young knight, catching the confidence in his eyes, and he answered at once.
"It is not our safety that concerns me," the second-in-command knight said quietly. "It is theirs. We may walk away unscathed, but they may not due to the same oath."
