"I'm defending reason and strategy," Yaknapati replied.
"Baron Kaezhlar defeated Tamnarasi. That means he's powerful, possibly among the strongest individuals in the empire. If we send Bhaelava and his fighters after him, one of two things happens: either they succeed, and we create a martyr who was defending himself against imperial aggression, or they fail, and we suffer more humiliation."
"So we do nothing?" Mandaqini's voice dripped with contempt.
"We wait," Yaknapati corrected.
"And leave that baron to me, I will take care of him."
He turned to his little sister, his gaze hardening. "No one who comes after our family will live long enough to see another dawn."
He looked at Bhaelava.
"Stand down, brother. That's not a request."
Bhaelava's jaw clenched, but he recognized that Yaknapati outranked him in every way that mattered. "As you say."
