[ That question makes him laugh. Why hadn't he? There are two answers to that.
He'd promised her the truth. He's never been very good at telling the truth, not plainly like this. In the end, he gives her the truth that's easiest to say. ]
Because I knew that I couldn't be Nikolai Lantsov, here. These people don't need a prince.
These people need Sturmhond, scourge of the true sea, breaker of blockades. They need a fighter and a gunsmith, they need someone who can lead and not be distracted by thoughts of a country left behind. And besides that, I don't know any of them. I've always known that a prince has a greater value as a hostage, when he's away from home. At first I thought that any one of these people could be working from the Darkling. Now that I know better, I know that the man himself could appear at any time, and if he does it's vital that he does not know Nikolai Lantsov is here.
[ He looks at her now, bright hazel eyes turning on her. He doesn't say the rest, the part that's harder. The part where she had been his friend and confidante at home, and yet she doesn't know him here. It had been easier to play at Sturmhond, and gain her trust again, than have her see him as a prince set at a distance. But that's too personal. Too difficult, and it's all still true, so he keeps it to himself. ]
Don't think for a minute that I didn't want to. I've missed being honest with you, as strange as that sounds.
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He'd promised her the truth. He's never been very good at telling the truth, not plainly like this. In the end, he gives her the truth that's easiest to say. ]
Because I knew that I couldn't be Nikolai Lantsov, here. These people don't need a prince.
These people need Sturmhond, scourge of the true sea, breaker of blockades. They need a fighter and a gunsmith, they need someone who can lead and not be distracted by thoughts of a country left behind. And besides that, I don't know any of them. I've always known that a prince has a greater value as a hostage, when he's away from home. At first I thought that any one of these people could be working from the Darkling. Now that I know better, I know that the man himself could appear at any time, and if he does it's vital that he does not know Nikolai Lantsov is here.
[ He looks at her now, bright hazel eyes turning on her. He doesn't say the rest, the part that's harder. The part where she had been his friend and confidante at home, and yet she doesn't know him here. It had been easier to play at Sturmhond, and gain her trust again, than have her see him as a prince set at a distance. But that's too personal. Too difficult, and it's all still true, so he keeps it to himself. ]
Don't think for a minute that I didn't want to. I've missed being honest with you, as strange as that sounds.