Kazim took a few steps back toward his throne, but made no move to sit upon it. He was far too worked up from his cousin’s arrival. He even had to cross his arms across his chest to keep from becoming fidgety while he waited for his advisor to give him options of what to do. Marek had proven to be an excellent advisor in the past, especially to his father, and had been gracious when Kazim had filled his position with Devam instead. Bringing the General in at the height of Khluri and Mes’Mo’Tanian tension had not only helped them with strategic matters, but in increasing morale across the country. Devam had just been that good, with his sharp military mind and his genial demeanor. Kazim knew that was also why he was so upset; Navia was throwing Devam’s memory into the dirt just by holding hands with the<i>Avezana</i>. Still, she was family and Kazim’s father had always told him that the country came first, but the family was always a close second.<br/><br/>For that reason, Kazim was glad to have Marek’s wisdom at his disposal. Kazim listened closely to the options laid out for them as well as Marek’s opinion of what the Mes’Mo’Tanians could be thinking. He did not think the other country would believe Navia had dispatched their crown prince and after having met him in the past, Kazim found it difficult as well. He knew that look on her face though, had grown up with it. It was often that face that came with the little headache his cousin always seemed to give him. Five minutes back in her presence and it was forming. “I do not like the second choice,” Kazim answered Marek, his eyes having wandered over to Yousef and Navia briefly to watch them argue. They snapped back to Marek to give him his full attention again, “Unless they have something we want, then Mes’Mo’Tan has taken enough from us and we have no business giving them anything more for free.” They had already sacrificed so much; even the number of nobles in the room watching the family debacle had suffered. With that in mind, Kazim shook his head, “The three of us need to discuss this and without Navia putting on a show for the nobility.”<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>The instant the doors shut and Théadan was no longer visible to her, Navia’s entire demeanor shifted. Dejection had run deep upon seeing him taken away from her yet again, and even more so by her own people. She’d wanted to slump against her brother’s caging hold and cry, the guilt of effectively delivering him into the waiting chains Khlurios wanted to put him in getting the best of her. After overcoming the initial shock of seeing him taken away and the immense need to go with Théadan, logic took over and Navia knew there was nothing she could do for him by being by his side for the time being. It was only through Kazim that he could be freed and so with her family was where she needed to be. Navia only hoped Théadan knew that and understood it, which she was confident in as he was always so level-headed and intelligent. So as soon as she composed herself and she felt Yousef’s hold on her lessen, Navia yanked free of him and spun to glare at her brother, “You betrayed my trust, Yousef.”<br/><br/>He looked down at her with a remorseful expression, knowing full well what he had done and how Navia would interpret it. Yousef was still trying to completely wrap his head around the events of his day however, and for a time could only stare at Navia. “When word came that you had been welcomed into the city again, I thought it had to be a mistake, that you had to be someone else. We gathered anyway, hopeful it was you, but the second I saw you and that prince step down from your horses, you brought me nothing but disappointment. How could you bring him here, Navia? I saw what those brothers did to our country firsthand! I saw what they did to your husband! And then I saw…I saw what they did to Vanam…” Yousef trailed off with the shake of his head, before looking back to Navia, “The instant we heard Vanam was under siege, Sai and I raced to find you. You don’t know how much it gutted us to know you were gone. Then you return here, with the one who took you from us? What were you thinking?”<br/><br/>“I was thinking that I love him,” Navia answered emphatically, “You only know a tiny portion of Théadan that isn’t even true of him. He does not want to cause harm to others. All he wants is to make amends for what he and his country have done and be with me. That is it!”<br/><br/>“And you believe him? You truly think that is all he wants? So much so that you’d—“ Yousef paused and stepped closer, lowering his voice and glaring down at his sister, “You<i>cannot </i>use what you tried to say, Navia. You know how the laws work. Kazim cannot save you from it once it’s said and the<i>Avezana </i>is condemned.”<br/><br/>“Then don’t let Kazim condemn him,” Navia barked back, crossing her arms beneath her breasts defiantly.<br/><br/>“Enough!” Kazim suddenly barked. It was no longer the time or place for such discussions to be had. The nobles had seen him capture the Mes’Mo’Tanian prince and welcome the lost duchess home, which had been all Kazim had wanted. Clearly the family needed to speak and figure out what to do, but that did not need to include the bystanders. “We shall discuss this further in my study,” Kazim started to say, his dark eyes shifting over to Yousef and then Navia before a derisive look crossed his attractive features, “Navia needs time to become more presentable first though. What are you even wearing?”<br/><br/>She glanced down at the simple yellow gown, which was dreadfully plain compared to all the finery those around her wore. “I’m sorry I could not find more presentable clothing while I was fleeing for my life and fighting to survive as I traveled here,” Navia answered scathingly, “If it pleases the crown, I shall go change.”<br/><br/>“It does,” Kazim answered gravely, not willing to acknowledge her sarcasm and instead spinning on his heel to start toward a door just to the right of his throne, “We will be waiting.” They left her there then, the three men exiting to the study behind the throne room. In many countries, it was designated a war room, but Kazim’s grandfather had been vehemently against war, instead a fan of strategy, so he had termed the room a place of military study and it had stuck. Once they were in the opulent space lined with books and more gilded decoration, Kazim rubbed his hands across his clean-shaven face with a frustrated growl. “Why does Navia always have to complicate everything?” He groaned before spinning to look at Yousef, who was shutting the door quietly behind them, freeing them from public view and allowing the three to speak in private, “What the hell is she thinking, bringing that man here?”<br/><br/>“She maintains the prince is here to make amends.” Yousef answered simply before he hesitated, knowing how much it would pain his sister if that was the case, then continued on with what he thought was best for the country, which was what Yousef had always tried to do, had been taught to do, “Marek and I have seen this prince during attempts to reason with the Mes’Mo’Tanians. I never saw any hint of remorse from him at the time. He was stoic and stood loyally behind his brother. It was the second prince was Rhodon, who was more of a threat in my mind, as he’s very paranoid. I fear keeping our captive a captive for long could bring his wrath upon us.”<br/><br/>Concerned with that, Kazim looked back to Marek again, the other advisor having already mentioned the madman-prince, “We cannot risk another war. Is there anything we can do keep Rhodon from finding out what has happened? And what do we do with Navia? No matter what we choose, she will fight this.”