The council's gaze followed us as Luke turned his back on them and strode back the way we had come. Despite his invitation, they remained silent, letting us leave without further challenge. I let out a pent-up breath as we dropped back onto the ridge, falling out of eyesight.
"Gods, that was tense," R'lissea mumbled, hugging herself. "I thought for sure one of them was going to snap."
"You handled that really well," I said, laying a hand on Luke's arm. "I thought you were going to get mad."
"They were testing me. Probing for a weakness, for proof I was too unreliable to lead."
"What about what you said about Xiviyah? Do you really intend to let them fight her?"
"If they wish. That won't be a problem, will it?" he asked, looking at me.
I shook my head. "Fyren already warned me. I don't think they'll find me easy prey."
