Page 36 of Forge the Blade

“You had him being domestic?”

“Cooking, cleaning, shopping, watching over Rei. He was doing well.

“I would never have considered giving him household chores,” Alexi said. “He’s too wild.”

“It wasn’t the domesticity.” Sevastyan moved from one hand to the next. “He’s good with Rei, seemed to take pride whenever he was praised for something that required skill.”

Alexi stood and sat in one of the stuffed chairs, face thoughtful. But he didn’t continue his line of inquiry. Instead, he changed the topic. “How has your Rei been?”

“Quiet. Anxious because he can’t serve. I won’t let him serve.” Sevastyan nodded towards Rei’s bandage-wrapped ankle. “You know how he is. He has no consideration for his body when he has a task.”

Alexi nodded, a soft, worried look on his face. “No infection?”

“So far, none. The antibiotics are working.”

“Ack, Sevastyan, my friend.” Alexi shook his head. “I am sorry for you. And for the boys. How are you? You look well, but I know you were not.”

“I’m healing. The drugs were the worst of it. I don’t think they meant to kill me, not at first.”

“And you have a plan?”

Sevastyan nodded. He glanced at Jonathan. There was no way he was discussing it in front of a third party.

“Jon dear, hallway, please. Actually, take a break, find yourself a lunch. Be back in an hour.”

Jonathan half bowed and let himself out.

“What is your plan?”

“My mother is holding a party in England. I’ve asked her to invite Dirk. I just need someone to watch over the boys while I’m away for a few days.”

Alexi gave Sevastyan a long look. “You do this, you can’t stop.”

“I know.”

“You’ve never been one to jockey for power.”

“I didn’t need to until now.”

They were both silent for a long time.

Sevastyan looked down at his hands. “I have to make a move one way or the other, Alexi. I’ve been here, in the middle for too long. My mother’s shadow, your shadow, Hand of the Yadro, answering to no one but the Yadro, but also having no defined place. I’m too important to ignore, not yet a quantified entity in my own right.”

Alexi grunted softly. “For those with no ability to read, you have to define yourself.”

The words washed over Sevastyan. He gave himself space to absorb them. “The business in South Korea isn’t over. And the Yadro hasn’t made it clear they are backing me, not in a way that matters enough. They’re treating my actions as independent one moment and an extension of their will the next.”

Alexi snorted. “The Yadro today is weak. Not in power. In decisiveness. You were too ruthless for their stomach in South Korea. You made the right call, but now they struggle to swallow the consequences of leaving shortsighted leadership to run rampant in the region.”

Alexi’s understanding was a balm. Sevastyan swallowed and flexed his fists, the scabs on some of his cuts stretching. “Some of the players want only revenge. Some want money. Others both. No one agrees on how to get said money. The Yadro wants peace, status quo, and tithes. Preferably without expending capital to get them.”

“And your solution?”

Sevastyan glanced up at Alexi. The other man’s eyes were frank and open.

He drew a breath and let it out. “Based on my last intel, I would remove Bak Gyeong and take his business as compensation for his debts. He was a lucrative client, but is now a liability. Any client who puts illegal activity on front page news is a risk factor too expensive to keep. Time to cultivate a new investment.”

Alexi nodded.