He was about to retort, but Ben's intervention cooled the brewing argument before it had a chance to become truly heated. It also proved that the boy was stronger than he looked, given the ease with which he picked Mal up like that. Something he noted alongside the faint green glow that he'd seen in her eyes. A legacy of her draconic heritage perhaps?

Once the young king had said his piece, Fouques sighed through his nose. "Very well," he said with only a hint of reluctance. "I've no desire to get into a shouting match with someone half my age in any case. Given my experiences being on the other side of such arguments, it's not likely to have the results that either side wishes." He smirked slightly, recalling when he himself had been that young and brash, so confident that he knew better than his elders. Perhaps a few more years and the weight of a crown would help settle this particular firebrand.