If she tried to stand up, Hadrian would hold out a hand, urging her to sit back down. He’d sit, pulling a chair to be by her bedside. An exhausted sigh left him as he sat. Hadrian thought darkly for a moment that he was really starting to sound like an old man. That should probably be of some concern.

“The boy’s family has been informed, yes. That news is never easy to take. As for the rest…” Hadrian rubbed his forehead in obvious frustration, “There’s a difficult road ahead. And I fear all might not make it to the end.” As the ominous sentence trailed off, he quickly added: “Of training, I mean.”

But is that really what he meant?

If Valeria would allow it, Hadrian would reach for her hand. He wouldn’t look at her face, instead focusing on where is hand covered hers. Even now, it was so small beneath his. Like she was still a child.

“Valeria, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

Hadrian squeezed her hand back, returning his gaze to meet Val’s. It wasn’t an unkind look in his eyes, but a serious one. It was her commander looking at her now—not the father, not the man that raised her. Whatever it was, Hadrian had assumed a tone of certainty. Of demand.

“I’d like for you to resign your position,” Hadrian said, voice low but firm, “For your sake. For your child’s sake. For mine.”

Hadrian’s relief would be evident. He let Valeria pull her hand away but reached for it again once she spoke about what came next. He understood. Hadrian’s entire identity was wrapped up in his position, as Logan’s had been. When Logan had resigned, he’d been adrift. He’d lost everything.

“I’ll request for a suitable position to be arranged,” Hadrian said with confidence, “You’ll not be resigned to a life of anonymity. There’s still much work to be done—not all of it on the battlefield.” He smiled, trying his best to be reassuring.

“I do.”

He squeezed Valeria’s hand. Perhaps it was selfish. Perhaps he was denying his niece the career she’d always dreamed of because he valued her safety over her desires. But Hadrian had raised Valeria without her mother. He did not intend to raise his grandchild too, should Valeria be killed in the war.

“I should let you get some rest. I just wanted to…” He smiled sadly, “Ease my mind.”