If I go to Valka tonight, I will have only a wish of violence against her—she will have made me come to her, and the power will still rest with her. I need to wait until Valka needs something from me, as she will. And I must think on what I want from her in return. In this moment, it is abundantly clear that my threats will not hold her. She will simply plan to eliminate me before she betrays Kestrin, rather than risk her agreement with the Lady.
