"I’ve got it. The transfer directive will be issued immediately."
Hayden Ward’s voice was like grinding stone—low, authoritative, and utterly devoid of room for negotiation. He was the "Lion of the Midlands" for a reason; he didn't just hold power, he breathed it. "From now on, you will be pragmatic. You will stay grounded. Until you have the capacity to change the world around you, you will learn to accept the Council's decision and the status quo. Accumulate the power for change in silence, Ambrose. Don't let your temper outrun your shadow again."
It was the usual lecture—stern, overbearing, and delivered with the weight of a man who viewed the province like a chessboard. He didn't mention where Ambrose was being sent, nor did he ask if Ambrose agreed with the destination. In the Ward
