Mad Instructor Ardent yawned and then he shrugged. "Real prisoner? You can't hold me though, can you, Miret? I've always fancied fighting with people that are strong, and I've been bored all this while."
Miret narrowed his eyes. "Last we heard, you were wounded on the battlefield and were sent here to silently die, out of public eyes. That was after you denied the Emperor's wish to have a glorious death in battle."
Ardent's eyes darkened. "I don't know how you keep up with what's happening outside from that cave of yours."
Miret's eyes shone. "The politics of the Empire affect even the tiniest blade of grass. If you don't keep track, it'll slowly creep behind you like a late tide and sweep you off."
Ardent smiled and then he pointed at Miret. "The children, if any of them die, I will be seriously angry. And I have only been angry once in my life. Ask the barbarians to the north how that went."
Miret went still. "Are you threatening Isolde Dusk?"
