6.30 – A Disoriented Fox VI

6.30 – A Disoriented Fox VI

Delta's head spun. She looked between Zoey and the Guildmaster, unable to find her voice.

Eventually, she settled on something simple.

"Oh."

She didn't have anything else to add.

Enzo, at least, was quick to fill the silence.

"It was a surprise to me as well. It was certainly ... uncharacteristic of my daughter to have formed a party of her own. She knows I had plans for her. Either she believes you three are more deserving of her company than who I would choose, somehow better equipped to protect her, or, alternatively, she was stricken by a sudden bout of sentimentality. And decided to make her temporary allies her permanent ones. I haven't decided which I believe is more plausible, yet." He tilted his head. "Though your reaction is providing ... insight. You consider her a friend more than an ally, don't you?" He tsked. "Dangerous, in a career like this."

Neither Delta nor Zoey replied to him. Enzo didn't seem bothered. He continued, undeterred.

"Now," he said, shifting his weight on his throne. "I realize the first weeks upon entering the Fractures is a formative period of a person's life. For Rosalie, that would be no exception. Earning her class. Testing her mettle in a way she's trained for her entire life. And, of course, her first taste of autonomy. Away from my supervision. I am not so ignorant to think these things would not change her in some way. She's young. Recently an adult of her own." His lips curled up in amusement. "But, unless I greatly misunderstand my own daughter, sentimentality wouldn't have guided her entirely. She does, to some extent, believe you three worthy of being her teammates." He appraised them with a calm gaze. "I hope you realize how much political trouble that causes me. I had arranged what would have been the wayfaring party of a generation. The best and brightest youths from across the world. From respectable families. Solidifying troublesome political ties. And my daughter knows this. Yet, still, she chose you three, despite that it would force me to break my promises."

This time, Enzo didn't fill the silence. He waited patiently for a reply.

Zoey was the one to speak up.

"I don't mean any disrespect," she said. "But isn't this something you should discuss with her?"

"I intend to. But I wished to meet with you two first. And the Moonlight Weaver's daughter as well, of course." His eyes fell on Delta. "There's so much to learn from first impressions. Especially when there hasn't been proper time to prepare."

Delta's tail swished agitatedly behind her, but her head was still spinning. She only half heard Enzo's words. She stood there, numb, and just listened.

Getting no response from Delta, his gaze turned back to Zoey. "I suspect my daughter would have vastly preferred to have formed a plan of attack for this meeting." He seemed amused by the concept. "And to have taken the lead on your part. To speak for you. But I won't allow that to happen." He chuckled. "What father wouldn't wish to learn more about his daughter's teammates in an honest environment?"

"Where is she, anyway?" Zoey asked.

"Rosalie? In stasis. I'll be speaking with her last."

"And Maddy?"

"The daughter of the Moonlight Weaver is, of sorts, a dignitary of the Sovereign. That means she deserves a cordial welcome."

"And we don't?" Delta snapped, breaking her silence.

Zoey was smart enough not to reply.

Delta wasn't.

"No wonder she always sounds scared when she talks about you," she said.

Enzo stiffened.

Delta took satisfaction that she'd scored a blow. Then immediately afterward, she went cold in realization of what she'd just said, and to whom.

Really. If there was ever a time in her life she needed to collect herself, it was now.

This man was dangerous.

Like the ocean was wet.

Enzo took a breath, calming himself. "As I said, ignorant," he said dismissively. "You wouldn't understand. I love my daughter. As I love my Guild. But frivolous things like wants are irrelevant to those in our position. Alas, I didn't summon you here to bicker like children." He leaned back in his throne, visibly relaxing. "So tell me. Why did my daughter choose you as her teammates?"

Delta clenched her jaw shut, forcing herself to remain quiet. Zoey needed to lead this conversation. Delta was enormously lucky Enzo had decided to hold audience with both of them rather than one at a time. If it had been her alone with him, things would not have ended well.

As it stood, she didn't trust herself to say anything to this man without digging her own grave. The Guildmaster of the Deepshunters wasn't known for his mercy or kindness. Whether they were his daughter's allies or not, she needed to be careful around him.

"That's a complicated topic," Zoey said slowly. "And ... it's something we'd rather discuss as a team."

"Obviously. As I've acknowledged, and hence this meeting without my daughter's presence. Continue."

Zoey grimaced, sharing a look with Delta. But, standing there, fuming, her head a mess for a number of reasons, she unfortunately wasn't in a good condition to help Zoey navigate this.

"I'm ... sorry," Zoey said. "If this is really about you understanding her teammates, then you can ask us questions. About us. But I know Rosalie wants to explain her choices to you. And the bigger picture. I won't do it for her. I don't mean any disrespect by that."

"You're not in a position to deny a request from me," Enzo said. "You realize this?"

"Yes. But, again, respectfully, I care more about what Rosalie wants than what you do. She wants to explain herself to you. She's been stressed about it for days. She respects what you think. So I won't speak on her behalf."

Enzo tapped the armrest to his throne, annoyed, looking down on Zoey.

Eventually, he sighed.

"The loyalty is commendable. I could continue making threats, but I can read it on your face—you know they hold no weight." He grew increasingly irritated. "Because I won't harm Rosalie's guests, no matter how disrespectful they are. At least, not until I speak to her myself." His eyes flicked to Delta, holding them for a second, then back to Zoey. "Fine. I'll receive her reasoning from her. Nonetheless, I wish to understand you through my own lens. You can, at least, present yourself to me, no? So answer me. Who are you, to think you're worthy of being my daughter's allies?"