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“Premonitions?” said Zeff. That was a new one. Graves hadn’t mentioned that before.

Or perhaps he had, but Zeff had been too enraged to listen. Difficult to be sure, especially when he could not trust Ax to remember, either.

“Yes,” said Graves. “The storm. I could sense it coming, though I did not know its exact nature or just how bad it would be. But I knew that I would need help. That Vantalay would.”

“And you did not think to tell us of these premonitions?”

“I’ve tried that tactic in the past, too. Sharing such information about myself, about my abilities, has almost always come back to bite me in the long-term.”

Zeff paused. “And yet you’re sharing it with me now.”

“I am trying to, yes. Are you going to make me regret it?”

“I told you before that I would keep your secrets, did I not?”

“You did. And yet, what was one of the very first things you did after making that promise? Do you recall? Because I do.”

Zeff’s jaw clenched. He could see where this was going.

“You told your brethren not to trust me,” said Graves. “You poisoned the well against me.”

Calm. Collected. Begrudgingly, with a clear head, Zeff had to acknowledge that... perhaps the bastard was making a fair point there.

But he also couldn’t just leave it at that, either. “My first duty is to my kin,” said Zeff. “I did that only for their protection, not out of some spite for you.”

“Yes, I know. Which is why I was not as angry as I might’ve otherwise been. But it also doesn’t change the fact that you made things about a hundred times more difficult for me in an already difficult situation. Where countless lives were depending on me. Where they still are, even now.”

Zeff breathed. He was trying to be reasonable. Level-headed. Without pride or ego. Like Cassius. “...It was not my intention to breach your trust, but I can understand your perspective. And I... I apologize.”

Graves’ head reared back, blond hair ruffling, and he blinked. “...You do?”

Pah. He didn’t have to look so surprised. “Yes. I can see how that may have been unfair to you.”

Graves just kept looking at him.

“Now if I can take accountability for my actions and behavior,” said Zeff, “can you take accountability for yours?”

Graves smacked his lips. “Ah. I see. Taking a different approach, this time, hmm? I can respect that. Admire it, even. You may yet become worthy of that noble legacy, after all.”