---
The heir looked at him with sharpened interest. He asked, "Will he?"
Sekhmet replied, "Yes."
Mihos's eyes narrowed further. Then suspicion came, it was quick and unpleasant, it moved through them.
"Do you have some kind of mind control skill?"
The guards around the camp shifted almost invisibly at that.
Stephen's face became very still.
Lady Seraphiel's gaze moved from Mihos to Sekhmet.
Mihos went on at once, his voice was colder now that the possibility had entered the road. "Let me warn you. You cannot take him by force. You cannot use mind control. He goes with you only if he chooses to go with you willingly."
Sekhmet's expression did not change.
"Why? Are you scared? I have my ways."
That answer did not comfort anyone.
Especially not Kess.
Mihos's mouth curved without warmth. "Fine. Show me."
Then he turned his head slightly. "Stephen. Watch for any sign of chaos energy coercion or mental compulsion by any chaos tools / artifacts."
