His trips to the hot springs had become more and more frequent. Ever since the loss of his personal slave, the girl who had specifically been hired to assist in the mitigation of his pain, he'd had little choice but to seek help elsewhere. The physicians said they had done all they could with their potions and poultices, some of which temporarily eased the aches in his hip and leg, but nothing helped give him some comfort like a long soak in the hot springs.


With guards in tow he made the trip at least twice a week when he was able, his valet bringing along some documents that were necessary to review even as he took this moment to heal. His father and brother's being absent there was so much more than the usual handling of business. At least when his father and Vang were at skirmishes with the northern tribes, Yiannis and Silas could handle their own baronies. They all had stewards of course, but the work of double checking and keeping accountability fell to him and his mother in their absence. Yanni of Kotas had enough to deal with, and though he felt the exhaustion, he wanted to help her as much as he could. 

Zan gave a heavy sigh of relief as he sank into the water, vaguely listening as the knots and aches in his body slowly began to unwind. He gave hums of noncommittal answers when he could, keeping his responses short and simple when possible. It was only when the man brought up the planning of Dion's descent into the mines that he opened his eyes and turned his focus. It was an event that in normal times might have been celebrated with much more fanfare, but with the attempts on the lives of his father and brother, the delicate situation Evras was in, and the war going on, it had been determined necessary to hold a smaller more intimate gathering. 

They were debating which of Zanon's own guards would go with his son into the depths when a sound drew his attention and he turned to see the familiar features of Leto of Chaossis. The sister of the spymaster had become close friends with his sister and cousin, and was seen more and more often at family functions. Most recently they had been together when the whales had washed up on the beach, and he wondered how she was recovering from the shock.

"My lady Leto, what a pleasant surprise."