"Change of plans. I want you in the field, but your priority is finding and capturing Phloria Ernas. Whoever succeeds and brings her to me will become my heir. Hand her to Verhen yourself and I'll have your head. Lotho out."
The plant representative couldn't miss the opportunity to be the first among his peers to learn Blade Magic. It would strengthen his faction and give him the edge that plant folk needed to come out of the beasts' shadow.
***
Golden Griffon, at the same time.
Thrud was studying the map around Phogia, trying to predict Lith's strategy and foil his plan.
The city hadn't been built over a nearby geyser because the closest one was located on the cliff of a deep canyon and too distant from solid ground to be accessible from the trading routes.
"You are the one who knows Verhen the best. What do you think he will do?" Thrud asked.