And of course all hopes of remaining calm were shattered when she saw the embroidered hawk. Only one person she knew of would willingly wear that symbol. "Aelin. But no..." She shook her head, smiling back at the ambassador. "My apologies for the lapse in concentration. They've been at my side since the very beginning. They claimed me, and I claimed them." Not exactly talking about the girls, but Celaena would understand what she was really referring to, herself being claimed by Celaena and Rowan. "As far as the compensation, I should hate for our enemies to think that I was bribed into an alliance, but it comes at a welcome time. Our treasury is down to coppers with the expenses of my uncle."