Again, Gallus found no reason not to be honest. He answered amiably, "I have been in several conversations with Ri'vashi. I would say that I have gotten to know her fairly well."

Gallus rubbed a finger behind his ear and considered sticking to the facts that Dro'cahi might have only wanted to hear rather than everything. "Ri'vashi...certainly has large shoes to fill carrying on from her father. She has been well trained as a warrior and as a leader of soldiers. However, I feel as though she was thrown into the position of clan leader rather more suddenly. She only wants what is best for the clan, and she had since gained experience. These days? She has expressed frustration at times for the impression that...well, that she is still too inexperienced."

Gallus lifted a hand with his palm up in a half-shrug. "What would you say that she is like?"

[hr]
Sabine watched La'tahne and La'khay walk off and then returned Peiter's grin. "Only if I get to bathe you as well," she responded, before pulling herself up close and giving Peiter a longer kiss.

It was another few minutes before Sabine was sitting forward in the pool with Peiter scrubbing her back. It felt good to finally be cleansed, but an errant concern resurfaced in her mind. "Peiter, how long do paintings take, anyway?"