"It's threachery". Is head spin because of news or because of wine? "Rakan betrays even his own men. You can't approve treachery!"
"I can't approve, but it's sometimes needful". Lionel raised his cup. "I can betray you for example, you need to know this. You, but not my country."
"And what about First Marshall?" Why he asked? His work is following orders, not to induce a talk.
"Alva?" Savignac chuckled. "No. I won't betray Alva and he won't betray me. If needful, one would sacrifice the other, that's all."
"And how it's different from treachery?" Lionel was filthy right, Charles understood it but can't stop arguing.
"Treachery is always unexpected and unpleasant for betrayed". Marshall of the North stopped smiling. "But we know what to expect from each other. If it's needful to fire a fuse, neither me nor Alva would stop because of the other being bound to the powdercag".