Casey kept staring at me, unflappable and uninterested. Seconds passed like minutes before she uncrossed her legs and dipped her head forward, hands clasped together. "What?"
I carried my earlier tone. "You heard me. I want to be your ally, both politically and militarily. I will help you climb your way back to House Snowrite's seat of power. I will help make you Duchess of Siocgard."
The blue-haired young woman kept eyeing me dubiously. Whatever she felt, she didn't let it on her face. "And in return, you said?"
"And in return, I said—" I spread out my hands, "—I want us to be friends. Just like friends, I'd want a few favors here and there. But none of it would be unearned or unreasonable. Nor would it be one-sided. I will hold up my end of the bargain and more. I will aid you with whatever you need as well, to the best of my abilities."
I was done talking. I had laid out my promise.
