Janius was amused at Julan's excitement. "Of course," he said, squatting down and cutting the cake. He gave Julan a generously sized piece of the cake.

"Newt gets sweetcake before eating his vegetables?" Rhazii asked after confirming that was he was seeing was real. He tugged on Janius' leggings. "Can I have some, too, uncle Janius?"

Janius raised his brow at Rhazii. "You'll have to ask your mama and dada, Rhazii." He raise a finger. "Remember, your brother's name is Kaj-Julan now. Not Newt."

"Oh, sorry," Rhazii said quickly, before sticking his food between his teeth to hold it and scrambling up to go and ask Ahnasha for cake.

[hr]
"Ri'vashi, that's unfair," Gallus shook his head. He understood that no immediate action would help at this stage, but her guilt was not justified in his mind. "You're a tactical genius, but even you couldn't have helped. You would have died in there and everyone needs you here." Feeling that his words weren't enough, Gallus curled his lips and exhaled.

Another idea came and he lifted Ri'vashi's chin with his curled forefinger. "Listen." He interrupted himself and blew out a sigh from his nose. He was still shaken by the news and was tripping over himself. "Answer me this; what would your father [i]really[/i] think of you now? Sincerely? After how well you have lead the war -- after all the lives you have saved from here by your decisions? You once told me that he had his own demons, that he couldn't save everyone either. Don't think that he could be ashamed. In grief, like you? Certainly. Ashamed?" Gallus shook his head. "Impossible."