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“Open your mouth,” Rudhira instructed.
Lio frowned. “Are you about to cast a stiff-tooth spell on me?”
“I was able to save both your fangs on the side where your jaw broke, but I need to check if they’re extending and retracting properly.”
“A spell won’t be necessary,” Lio said with great dignity. He bared his fangs, and they lengthened promptly.
“Good.” Rudhira put his fingers on either side of Lio’s jaw and felt the joint. “Do you have any pain?”
“No,” Lio answered.
“Do not try to hide it.” Rudhira’s healer tone might be even more authoritative than his princely one.
“I promise, Ritual father. I don’t hurt anywhere.”
“Do you feel any numbness?” Rudhira asked.
“No.”
“Flex your hand and tell me if you feel any weakness there or in your arm.”
Lio opened and closed his fist, and Cassia watched the muscles work under the new skin where he had been burned.
“No,” Lio said. “I admit I am rather exhausted, as if several bottles of Sunfire Poison have just gone out of my veins.”
Rudhira leaned forward. He wasn’t looking at Cassia, but even so, her proximity to his quiet fury sent a shiver down her back. “That was not Sunfire administered by a healer, Lio. You put your face in front of a fire mage’s fist.”
“Yes, I did,” Lio replied calmly.
“What were you thinking?” Rudhira demanded. “You know better! You might have spent years with the healers working on that jaw before you could drink properly again.”
“I knew Solia wouldn’t hit me that hard.”
“That is beside the point,” Uncle Argyros cut in.
“On the contrary, Uncle, that is the point, you see? She was holding back.”
Now Cassia was beginning to see.
So, it seemed, was Uncle Argyros. He fixed Lio with the infamous gaze that had turned armies out of their path. “Do not try to argue that you just took a magefire blow as an act of diplomacy.”
“But it worked, I take it?” Lio looked to Rudhira. “You said I might have spent years. That suggests I won’t. How long will it be before I can drink from Cassia again?”
Rudhira made an exasperated noise. “As soon as your Uncle and I leave you to it.”
In the face of their combined ire, Lio smiled. Gingerly, as if unsure his mouth would obey. But it was a smile without remorse.
“You’re sure he’s all right?” Cassia asked.
“Yes. But if he has any pain, stop and send someone for me.” Rudhira rose to his full height. “Lio, I will spare you further admonishment until you are back on your feet. But if I have to remind you not to misuse my fighting ring by taking you for a round in it myself, I will.”
“Yes, Ritual father,” Lio said, still smiling.
Rudhira stepped away, but his aura seemed to leave behind a cold blaze in the air.
Uncle Argyros remained a moment longer. “If you ever scare us like that again, I may consider revoking that medallion of yours. I cannot deny I have seldom seen an ambassador so effectively subvert physical force for diplomatic ends. Just ensure you do not repeat that strategy.”
“I only have one fire mage’s good opinion to win, so I don’t think it will be necessary.”
