[ The longer this conversation has gone on, the more he's begun to suspect Claude held some rank or power in his home world. It's in the way he speaks and carries himself, those careful and shrewd answers that have reminded Kahlil of Alidas. But Alidas was born to a common family, he'd risen through the ranks of rashan'im to become a captain. To be born into nobility is something else, as is being named heir of a family.

The revelation gets a slight frown, his gaze scanning over Claude's face in an re-assessing way that gives away his surprise to a degree. I resigned my titles when the war ended. ]

I hope that wasn't a dangerous decision to make in your world. [ In powerful families heirs were chosen for the survival of the entire house. To give up those titles could at the very least cause rumor or scandal, at worst point out weakness or division in the house to their enemies.

He sets his tea down with another shake of his head. ]

Did the Free Cities make it sound like they knew much about your past? In Thorne they tell us we were Summoned because they'd heard of our 'exploits', but if that's true, then I got the sense very few people within the castle have any actual knowledge of our history.

[ If at all. ]