Thorn blew out a breath. "It's time, isn't it?"
Ren nodded. "It is time."
"Time for what?" Elias piped up, breaking their exchange of nods.
Ren sighed, adjusting himself as he sat at the edge of his bed. "I already had plans to contact Anders Vermilion during the king's tournament. I'll have to contact him now for Lilith. So, my plan to raise an army is shot to hell."
"Raise an army?" Elias' eyes widened. "For what?"
"To fight barbarians. It's a whole thing. Don't worry about it." Thorn waved away his words. He turned to Ren. "So, instead of raising the army, we'll be presenting a deal to release Lilith."
"Yes." Ren answered. "But this deal will be harder. Raising an army would've been mutually beneficial for us both. By fighting the barbarians, he would have an army loyal to him and spread his name and battle prowess far and wide."
