The next morning, Aurelian was still at Helion when Cassian contacted him again.
This time, the message was not private.
It came through as a formal family communication addressed to Crownward Command, which told Aurelian immediately that whatever his father wanted to discuss had already gone beyond a simple conversation between them.
Astra was with him in one of Helion's smaller planning rooms.
Rhoswen had finally returned from the patrol exercise sometime after midnight and was now pretending she had not spent half the night competing with newly trained crews.
Eirenne appeared beside the main display as the transmission opened.
Cassian's image came into view.
"You look tired," he said.
Aurelian looked back at him.
"I had a regional meeting."
"I heard."
"Then you know why."
"I also heard Rhoswen joined a training exercise."
Rhoswen immediately looked toward Aurelian.
"You told him?"
"I did not."
Cassian smiled slightly.
"Helion sends reports."
