Chapter 11: Fireside Counsel

Back at the Ember Keep, Qingsai paced the fire-lit corridor. Yuwen watched him with a quiet smirk.

> "You met with Vurnash?"

Qingsai nodded. "He wants me to marry his granddaughter."

> "Let me guess — in exchange for loyalty, power, wealth, and probably one of those absurd lava cats they raise in the south?"

Qingsai sighed. "What would you do?"

Yuwen leaned against the wall.

> "You want advice? Here's what my old master once told me:

'In a land of volcanoes, build your allies before the mountain moves.'"

He tilted his head.

> "The girl's a noble. She could be a key to this land. Just… make sure she's not a leash."

Qingsai nodded slowly. "Thanks."

> "Also," Yuwen added, "if she's cute, I call dibs on being the fun uncle."