"To the Vasilievs' territory?" Cecilia hummed in contemplation. After a brief, thoughtful silence, she nodded, the gentle smile from moments before still gracing her lips. "Okay. You won't be going alone, yes?"
Arkai's own smile was reassurance itself as he nodded back. "I am going with my men, the ones you saw with me that day by the river. So you don't have to wo—"
"Hm?" The sound that left Cecilia's lips was soft. But her eyes transformed in an instant. The warmth evaporated, replaced by a cold glare. "No scheming, or I will what?"
"Wait, h-huh?" Arkai stuttered, the smooth assurance knocked clean out of him. He turned instinctively toward his Elder Brother, only to find Oathran's own gaze widened in mirrored surprise. So the Dragon, too, had been blindsided by this vertical escalation?
