Alaras shook his head.<br/><br/>“How could I judge you on that?” That wasn't it, definitely not. “Do you honestly think that I've never..” Things didn't have to be equal though. Alaras was the one supposedly doing<i>them</i>a favor.<br/><br/>When Alaras pressed, asking him a question he didn't take lightly, it was clear Basren didn't understand. He said as much, and how could he explain himself without giving himself away entirely? His opinions would get him in trouble here, and he couldn't trust Basren not to be the one to sell him out to the King first chance he got. The bastard had his talons deep in the young man.<br/><br/><i>Shit</i>. And Basren was starting to draw conclusions himself.<br/><br/>“<i>No</i>,” he snapped. “I've just.. been away too long. I got used to things being a certain way.” Was Sovele really just going to let Basren go at this point? Somehow, he doubted it. The smartest thing to do would have been to retract from the situation.<i>To leave Basren alone</i>. They already thought Maes' son had been lost to them a long time ago, but if it was anyone's duty to fine out, it was his. Even though the boy wasn't his own, like it should have been. He'd stomach his resentment, and see if there was a chance Basren's loyalties were not so deeply set they couldn't be uprooted. It might get him beheaded in the process, but his own loyalties had been to Maes, not just his cause.<br/><br/>“Just because I don't agree with the situation doesn't mean that I'm a radical,” Alaras told him, softly. “Just old fashioned.” Likely, Basren wasn't used to hearing anyone disagree with a decision the King made, but they were in private, and he wanted to see what the boy did with the information. If he went running to the King, to gossip, he'd know.<br/><br/>“We shouldn't linger here too much longer. I imagine your pursuit is going to be dangerous enough, without the two of us sneaking around, before I've even publicly made my intentions known,” Alaras spoke, straightening the sleeve of his coat.<br/><br/>“Send your tailor tomorrow, so I can sort my wardrobe out. I want you to approve it beforehand, to make sure I'm doing things properly. I don't want to give Sovele an excuse to retract his offer.” All he could hope to do now was use Sovele's secrets against him. He couldn't very well throw a fit if Alaras proved to be a proper suitor, not without making his own inclinations towards Basren more well known than they already were. In the way he spoke, his voice didn't hold the same blind love for the King Basren spoke with, but rather a spark of contempt. Basren had seemed happy at the prospect of another option. Alaras would do all he could to provide him with one, even if he had no intention of ever touching the young man. If he could claim him, and get him out of this mess, he'd at least be free of Sovele to make his own choices.