Chapter 37 - Diplomacy by Flattery
Oriana had made her decision. There was no surprise there. Of course she would stay with Orion. No one knew him better than she did, and no doubt she had her reasons. Her loyalty wasn't blind.
Tave had his reasons too.
In truth, he had finally agreed with the idea of splitting the team, at least for now. It wasn't about trust. It was about control, about minimizing risk. He didn't feel safe putting his life in the hands of people he barely knew.
The only ones he had any real grasp of were Lily, Oriana, and Orion, but for entirely different reasons. Lily, he knew through the lingering memories of the old Tave. Memories that came with emotion, with warmth, with a sense of belonging.
But Oriana and Orion? He knew them because he had written them. They were characters from a story he created. Personalities he had shaped. Flaws he had designed. That gave him an edge, however small. And in a Rift like this, that edge might be the only thing that kept him alive.
Oriana was still watching him. Waiting.
So were the others.
And the silence spoke louder than anything.
Two children of the City Lord, and neither could win the trust of their team. The truth was painfully clear: it wasn't Oriana they feared.
It was Orion.
The arrogance. The volatility. The violence still hanging in the air from moments ago.