Day 65 of the siege.

The child knelt on the stony ground of one of the castle's towers--sweating, panting, but delighted beyond measure. He had been in the sky for the third time now, and without any notable incidents. Despite the obvious exhaustion, he thought eagerly, flying sure was thrilling!

"Did you see that, Candis?" the boy addressed the human officer responsible for the tower he landed on, beaming. The officer clapped in his direction, smiling.

"Did a great job, sir. Need a hand?"

Vlos stood up by himself, patting away the dust from his garb. "Now, let's see if there's already a cool drink waiting for me..."

"My prince," someone else said from the shadows while leaning on the inner wall and crossing their arms. "Something I wish to tell you."

"Who's there?"

"Senna, my liege. Please come here."

"Why won't you come here?"

"This is for your ears only."

So the boy did come to where Senna was, if warily. Under the torch-light, her smile seemed somewhat rueful.

"Not very common of you to use this tone, Sen. What's up?"

She saw no other way to dull the impact. "My prince, a thousand apologies for the suddenness... but now that the seaborne raids seem have entered a halt, I have to go somewhere."

"Where, exactly?"

She paused.

"You wish to see Arenda bearing Hospodian colors again, I presume?"

"Of course. Mom promised to take me there someday, so I can't have it under another banner. Why this question, though?"

"You know I've been in your service since your lord father's untimely demise, and would love--as you do--to clear this part of the Hospodian realm from inciters. But to that end, I may have to leave your side."

"Are you going to answer my previous question now?"

"I am going on a mission... to another city."

"Name it," he pressed, taking a step forward.

"Ardis, southwest of Arenda."

To think it would really be this easy, the female officer wondered. There are times he seems more like the child version of the general than his nephew per se...

"Will it be long?" the princeling inquired.

"I can't say for certain. In the meantime, Sadanastra will keep things running here."

He shrugged. "Can't say I've heard too much of him."

"Shall I have him come to you to introduce himself, then? He would, after all, need your endorsement to officially begin his command."

"I'd rather he come by his own accord," Vlos countered. "Everyone knows I'm still a kid, too young to even lead, and if you force him to pay his respects that way he might feel discouraged instead. There is also still the mayor to turn to, who might not like his authority being undermined even by you. So... complicated."

"Sir, might I remind you, Yasnar is just a mayor of one city..."

"As you are just an aide of one general," the young one returned crisply. "Besides, he was appointed by my dad himself, while you were picked by a lesser authority. You'd do well to know your place."

"I-if you put it that way..."

For the first time since being ushered into Urdin's presence decades ago, Senna found herself blushing again, and this outside of being tactfully beaten in her own game by someone years younger.

"Have you seen my lady mother about this?"

"I thought you should know first."

"Well, now I do, so go along. As it happens I'm heading that way too. Shall I see you again before your departure, Sen?"

"I'll make sure to present myself to you then, sir."

"Nice. Shall we?"

As she walked side by side with her young liege for the present, Senna could not help wondering that she might not have been facing an innocent playful cub, but a maturing Lion of Balaras. And yet some people there dared doubting his budding capabilities...

***

"Hello, Mom." Vlos smiled brightly as he entered her private study. "Been soaring again today. I brought Senna as well, said she's got something to discuss. I'd listen too, if that's allowed."

Lista was scribbling some lines in the book Yasnar had provided her, but she looked up at the sound of opening door, smiled, and closed the book.

"Of course it's allowed, dear Prince Hospodia. What might that topic be?"

Senna bowed. "My lady, I have been casually asked if I could oversee an agent's activities in your former home city."

"Oh, now, this is surprising." Lista stood and approached her. "Why have I not been consulted before this?"

"We thought it would be premature to--"

"'We'?" Vlos' mother said it and the boy frowned at the word. "Who sanctioned this?"

"Mayor Yasnar, Madam. In person."

Alista blinked and was silent for some time. "Come to think of it, the mayor did bring up the subject when we last saw each other... and now is the go-ahead time, isn't it?"

"Actually, my lady, the mayor had not fixed a day for my departure. He reserved that decision to me. In other words, I'm free to begin as and when I see fit... and now that the Varastrians' sea raids have somewhat ceased, I do feel it's opportune."

"And which agent will you be keeping an eye on?"

"The one you both had had the chance to meet, my lady," Senna replied, flicking her gaze to Vlos beside her as if making sure he was still there. "Resna."

"I remember him," the boy piped in. "Do you trust him, Sen?"

"Sir, you trusted him and allowed him to pledge anew his loyalty. Shouldn't I?"

"Be that as it may," Lista joined, "this agent shall be sent only with my son's consent, as it was him who accepted the spy's pledges in person, not to mention as your liege and Prince Hospodia. Even if Yasnar had allowed you to go with him, you wouldn't. Not without Vlos affirming it."

"My lady, the prince and I have talked and he did give his permission."

"I did not witness your exchange. Repeat it."

Vlos took a step, looking up. "Is her word not good enough for you, Mom, after all we've been through?"

"After all we've been through, my prince, we need to be doubly sure not to experience another oath-breaking. Don't you think?"

He had no answer for that. Looking at Senna, he nodded, prompting her to face him while going down on one knee and taking his right hand in both of hers.

"Prince Hospodia, do I have your consent to deploy Agent Resna to Arenda from the town of Ardis with me, Senna Karistra, as his sole overseer with direct responsibility to you in success and failure?"

"You have it," came the reply, and she kissed the boy's hand in deference. "But first..."

She looked up. "Yes?"

"We would like to see him again. For the present, you may take your leave."

***

No sooner had the door closed behind them, that Vlos seated himself onto a couch that was also in the room, caressing its surface for a time.

"So, Mom," he breathed, "there goes another commander from Uncle's days."

"That makes you uneasy, Prince?"

"Not in itself; sooner or later she'd have to do something, anyway. What does worry me is if she could manage it. Traveling through enemy lands is not without its perils."

"Nor was our journey here, and that was by sea," she assured, "yet we passed that, as well as days upon days of endurance, efforts and prayers. Besides, Senna had a few years' experience as a raider under your uncle, so she had had the chance to experience living in the wild."

"That's with regards to Senna," the boy returned thoughtfully. "Resna, though?"

"A spy sees and hears many things from places many would never expect, don't you think? Had he failed such tests before, well, we would not have had the chance for a rather casual chat with him."

The boy bristled. "Mom, he was pleading for his life, how could you name that casual?"

"Oh, are you getting mad at me now? Urdin would've had him dumped overboard with hardly a second thought."

He looked away. "Please don't speak ill of my uncle."

Lista huffed. "As if I deserve less."

"You well know that's not what I meant!"

"Alright now, just breathe--"

The mother aimed to pat his head, but the juvenile 'Lion of Balaras' edged away in annoyance.

"Suit yourself." She walked back to her desk, resuming her seat. "Something's changing in you, Vlos; even as a human I could sense it."

The boy's emotional recovery rate was considerable. "R-really..?"

"I thought that instance on the ship was a mere burst having lost your father, but this time... Indeed, you seem to be going through what it takes to be a youth already. That feeling just now was the first real surge, I gather."

"I wonder... if it could be this scary."

"Really, that's not something you ought to be scared of. You just need to learn to manage it, the way you did your soaring."

"Balance," he blurted, "I feel that is what keeps me aloft."

"That, and so much more. I'm sure Urdin would tell you what some of those are, once he gets home."

Vlos leant forward, curious.

"If managing to control my flight had kept me aloft thus far, though, what do you think would happen when I've mastered this... surge, Mom?"

Alista looked up at the ceiling after scribbling for some time, exhaling deeply.

"The finest ruler Hospodia has seen in years, by The Infinite One's Grace."