Tzirret looked out at the horizon as well. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh at Ma'tanza's comments. "Yeah, Bheja is a bit too good at embarrassing others," he said. The sun had made contact with the sands now, casting a spatter of deep orange flecks across the uneven landscape. "Tzirret was surprised that S'nishi did not object. Does she enjoy embarrassing others as well?"

Encouraged by Ma'tanza's previous words, Tzirret slowly brought his arm around her back and held her just above the waist. He felt that it was a risk to be in such free physical contact without explicitly asking, but Ma'tanza said he did not have to be embarrassed. As well, in the past, when he had asked for permission for every advance with La'khay, she got tired of his requests very quickly. Tzirret did not want to make the same mistake again.

"I see," Gallus murmured. By her omission, Gallus assumed that Ri'vashi had no better idea of why she had been chosen as leader in the end as anyone else. It didn't seem to make sense at face value why Ri'vashi's father would choose her over Dro'cahi, but..."There has to be a reason," Gallus said, staring at the ground in contemplation, "A leader for so long, still of sound mind...I could not see someone like your father choosing you for no good reason. Perhaps...I would say that it is precisely the differences between you two that..."

Gallus looked up, then interrupted himself, "...ah, it is not my place to dictate, but if you would hear friendly advice from me, hear this: My mother always told me that I shouldn't second-guess myself for the sake of the opinions of others, that I should always do what I think is best. On the other hand, my father was a military man. He told me that the best advice comes from the experience of subordinates, that pride should never discount the usefulness of other points of view, for...in a war, you are all on the same side." Gallus angled his head, "You are both passionate, but you are on the same side, no? Is it really useful to take the disagreements between you two so personally?"