Page 233 of Salt Between the Wolves

Then she asked, "Did the two of you get along?"

Leander's expression immediately became more complicated.

"Not particularly."

The answer caught her off guard.

"What?"

"We argued constantly."

Eira blinked because, for some reason, she had expected something else.

"You and Soren?"

"Frequently," Leander replied without hesitation. "About politics, trade, alliances, and military decisions."

After a brief pause, he added, "Weather, on one memorable occasion."

Eira stared at him.

"Weather?"

"It was a very long meeting."

Despite herself, she laughed, and the sound echoed softly through the tower.

Leander's smile lingered for a moment before fading.

"The problem was that we were both young enough to believe we were right."

"You make that sound like a past condition."

"Some of us mature."

Eira rolled her eyes, and Leander ignored it.

"As strange as it may seem now, there was a time when half of my job involved convincing Soren not to charge directly at every problem he encountered."

The image was surprisingly easy to believe.

"What happened?"

"He became more patient," Leander said, then paused briefly. "Marginally."

That earned another reluctant smile from her.

As they continued climbing, Leander said, "Most people think his greatest strength is discipline."

Eira remained quiet and listened carefully because Leander rarely volunteered information, and when he did, it usually mattered.

"They're wrong."

"What is it then?"

The answer came immediately.

"Responsibility."