With the mix of advantages and disadvantages that both of them held, Ri'vashi and Gallus were reaching a stalemate. Each strike Gallus made, Ri'vashi could predict, but she lacked the ability to effectively retaliate. The shield made it easy to block or parry a blow, but it was also the only weapon she had available. Indeed, she did attempt to deliver a few strong bashes, and may have bruised Gallus' hands and arms in the process, but he could threaten her enough with his sword to keep her from doing anything that might end the bout. 

At the current rate, there was a possibility of the fight simply ending when one of them became too tired to continue, but there was one advantage Gallus did have over Ri'vashi in the form of his free hand. He could not overpower her, and as of yet had not been able to do much with it, but it still presented him with options. Disrupting her defense, even for a brief moment, would be enough to allow him to land a solid strike against a more important part of her than a hand. 

---

La'tahne gave a smile and a nod before opening the door fully to allow the pair inside. While what they were doing was more innocent than Tzirret had been worrying, seeing Peiter and Sabine modeling for a painting was still quite unusual. Although, Ma'tanza was not entirely surprised. As a well-known, and somewhat infamous, member of the Senchal clan, La'khay's affinity for artistic works was at least known to Ma'tanza. 

Peiter was becoming just becoming just as uncomfortable physically as Sabine from sitting for such an extended time. He was not sure how long they had been posing for La'khay, but he had a feeling they would be stopping for the day sometime soon. As for Tzirret and Ma'tanza, he was not particularly embarrassed about being seen in such a position. Intimate embraces between himself and Sabine were nothing new, even if they did try to refrain from doing anything too personal in public. 

When the pair entered the room, it was enough to prematurely end La'khay's story as she greeted them. "Ah, good evening you two. It is nice to have some of the cutest pairs in the clan all together in one place. This one hopes you did not come for a painting, though. She is afraid she cannot take on another right now."