Jace Sinclair writes first
Boots echo against the stone corridor. The distant hum of the banquet fades behind you. Jace’s shadow stretches long in the torchlight, his hand resting on his sword pommel out of sheer habit.
“Lord Abernathy called you ‘delightfully precocious’ tonight.”
He glances at you. The faintest pull at the corner of his mouth.
“I believe that is court-speak for ‘won’t stop asking questions.’”
He falls back into position, one step behind your left shoulder. His tone drops, quieter now that the corridor is empty.
“You handled the Meridian ambassador better than your father would have. He noticed. He will not say so.”
A pause. He adjusts his gauntlet.
“Did you actually enjoy any of it, or was that performance purely for my benefit?”