That night, I sat in my headquarters office, healing potions doing their work on my cracked ribs. The pain was manageable now. Mostly.
Damian entered with tea, he'd taken to bringing me tea when I was thinking. Said it helped me focus.
He was right.
"Young Master, the faction meeting is in an hour. Everyone's been notified."
"Good." I sipped the tea. It was good, Damian had gotten very particular about his tea preparation. "How are people reacting to the news about Adrian's pressure campaign?"
"Its mixed reactions from what I can tell, some are nervous. Most angry, but none talking about leaving."
"Yet."
"Yet," Damian agreed. "But Young Master, they're more committed than you think. I've been watching them. They chose to be here. That means something."
"Does it? When the pressure gets real? When their families are threatened?"
