The Day Before The Mission - Part 5

"And the talk of alliance?" Oliver asked. "For a woman that did no saving, you certainly made some grand speeches."

"I did not jest there," Asabel said. "It would honour me if you would at the very least consider a friendship between our two houses."

"Why?" Oliver said, looking her full in the eye as he asked it. "I sincerely don't understand, Asabel. Your position must already be difficult enough without saying you're friends with a Patrick. Why go so far?"

"For my own benefit," Asabel said, holding his gaze. "Oliver, you're still incredibly young. Politically, this is the weakest that the country will see you, and yet, you've already proved your battlefield strength over and over. I'm in agreement with Minister Hod – that this is a martial country. To do anything of importance, one needs martial might."

"That would only make sense, Princess, if you had something of such import," Oliver said.