The cunning plan, part 1

Like Cael expected, Father called for him and Ginevra in the morning—after a breakfast that passed in the same atmosphere as the dinner.

Mother explained in no uncertain terms that war councils of any kind were not something she wanted to take part in, nor did she think she would be of any use there. Vittorio, though, seeing that he wasn't included, became dark as a storm cloud.

Cael looked at him and remembered himself. He, too, was excluded before… Until he got power. He could only imagine how Vittorio would feel—he was the star of their father's eyes until only recently.

And maybe there was some brotherly rivalry between the two, but what of that? When they were children, Cael would push Vittorio in the mood, and when they were older, Vittorio would Summon Water right over Cael's head; but in the end, they laughed together.

So Cael said, addressing his father, "Let Vittorio come with us. He might have some ideas about our problem, too."