Therefore, the only person at Emparia Castle who remained unswervingly loyal to him was Aged Oak. That the man had pummeled him mercilessly was simply proof of his loyalty. The Prefect of Cove and Commanding General of the Eastern Armed Forces was a complex man acculturated by the society in which he lived to hide his true feelings behind a facade of indifference and truculence. Anyone of his station who expressed feelings even hinting at vulnerability was weak and soon lost that station. Flaming Arrow knew that Aged Oak had the highest respect for him—and loved him, an admission torture couldn't extract.
Running slowly through the rain, Flaming Arrow wondered if he should give his father a pummeling he'd never forget. The Heir laughed aloud, thinking it a strange way to express loyalty.
