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“...Do you think we can turn Garma and Vivima to our side?” You wonder aloud, genuinely unsure of the chances.
“It’s impossible to know.” Casval replies while continuing to forge a path through the wet brush, large knife in one hand and torch in the other, hacking here and there at particularly troublesome branches - It’s not a great tool for the job, too short, but he’s making it work. “Artesia loves Garma. This trouble with his arm is going to have her doting all over him for weeks, a broken prince to play nurse for… She’ll be good at it. Vivima’s cut from different cloth.”
His comment weighs on your mind, troubling thoughts that have gone unspoken for too long coming to the forefront, “...Casval, I need to tell you something… Whenever I’m with Vivima I feel these awful doubts about everything. I know the plan is something we need to see through but… I just need some help in getting back on track.”
“Don’t tell me she’s caught your eye, Felix.” Casval gives you a disapproving look, his brow furrowing but a touch of amusement still in his blue eyes.
“No, not particularly, I could deal with that,” You shake your head, hoping that he’ll understand, “Don’t get me wrong, she’s pretty, but it’s nothing on Elena.”
“She’ll be at the dance?” He questions, both of you ducking under a low branch and entering a slightly less dense section of the woods, rain falling harder overhead without the cover.
“Yes.” You can’t help but grin at the though, even as troubled as your mind is, “You’ll see what I mean, she’s beautiful, I… Never mind, not the point.”
“Well, good for you.” Casval returns your smile, clearly happy for you, but there’s still trouble in his eyes, “What’s the issue with Vivima then?”
“We’re friends.”
“Of course. Garma’s a friend too.”
“<span class="mu-i">Good</span> friends,” You clarify, your brother’s eyebrows lifting just a hair in acknowledgement, “I… I don’t want to hurt her, Cas, but she seems to really believe Gihren’s words, and she’s loyal to the rest of her family… And when I visited Tryphosa she said Viv had the potential to be a powerful newtype - I don’t think I can hide things from her if that happens.”
“A newtype Zabi, and a powerful one at that? I had hoped Artesia was mistaken. You’ll need to get better at lying then - We all will.” Casval stops completely to consider the idea, “...And as for the other issue, I wish I could help more. Come and talk if you ever have doubts, I’ll listen - Never forget what they did to us. Vivima will be one of the hardest ones to get rid of if it comes to that, the other Zabis all love her - We can’t afford to be sloppy or impulsive.”