“We have until mid-day…I may wait here, in case you…”
“I will not change my mind, my lord. I will not go with you to participate in a fruitless sham of drama and diplomacy for the sake of appeasing my cousin. Any burden of this I must bear…I will bear alone. Return to Rhidam and tell your king…” The word was spat with enough bitterness to make Kavan sigh and drop his gaze, “I do not need him now, nor never shall.”
Though Kavan bowed and took a heavy, reluctant step back, murmuring, “As you wish, Inness…again…I am sorry…” he had no intention of leaving Glevum yet. There was the possibility, until the end, that the young woman would have a change of heart and wish to bid her mother farewell. He could remain close, observe and await her answer in some other guise that she would never detect. However small that chance was, Kavan was determined to give it to her.