In Jovri's carriage, the young sigikel stayed silent for a while as his officials bickered.
"What should we do now? Is nowhere safe?"
"Go straight back to Burrklau. It's safer than these unknown lands."
"'Safer'? You know where most of the assassinations happened! Right at home--"
"We still need to stop somewhere. This travel is agonizing, and we need the safest route, for a set up shall happen like for poor Aiyanu."
Jovri's ears lay flat against his head at the sound of his father's name. He huffed and slumped forward. "'W-what can happen will happen'," he croaked. "My death is inevitable at this point."
"No," Adari told him, "Stay strong, Jovri. You are the remaining descendant of our nation's greatest heroes. We must keep you safe."
"A descendant, not one of them," Jovri grunted. "It doesn't matter. Keep on the route we know and be prepared."