Nathaniel knows better than to make it personal, but he did it anyway. Once the words are out of his mouth he turns his face away, anger boiling in him, knowing he just revealed to the enemy how much he values the treasure they have. He is very close to being done with negotiating, to storming out and launching a rescue effort tonight. Then Kian begins to argue, and Nathaniel looks at him. Stinging, hurt, but considering.

Egalitarians are perfectly fine with tyranny, his father told him once, so long as they get to be the tyrants.

He doesn't say it aloud. It wouldn't help if he did, and he has said too much already. He meets Teren's gaze, sullen but grateful, quietly surrendering the debate to her.