"Words are wasted on those who do not listen."

"You're too young to be doling out words of wisdom." Arigen shook his head, amused.

"It's from the book you left me. The Philosophies." Elrona leaned back in her large, cushioned seat. She smiled proudly. "Do I know your books better than you?"

"Well, Elrona, I have a profession." He put his hands up. They both kept their voices down in the study, even though no one else was around to hear them. "And very little time for reading, these days."

"You wouldn't know it, for all they do to ignore you." Her expression darkened slightly. The study's torches crackled overhead.

"So I should stop wasting my words, is that right?" He rocked his cup slightly, causing the ice within it to swirl. The contents caught the torchlight and seemed to glow red, though his cup only held water. "It does more good than you think. I've kept my job for a reason."

"No, I didn't mean that." Elrona looked down. "It's only, they don't listen. Whatever good you do in the West means nothing if everything unravels here."

"They need to be reminded, Elrona. The Imbrolis might pretend not to understand me, but they keep me around for a reason. A part of them knows how bad a second war would be. So long as I can keep reminding them..."

"Or, they keep you around because nobody wants your job," Elrona added cynically. Arigen sighed.

"It's an honourable career."

"Oh, surely."

They sat in silence for a few moments, sipping water.

"I suppose I can't convince you to take action against them."

Arigen chuckled. "I'm afraid words are wasted on those who do not listen."