Gallus was slightly surprised that Ri'vashi wanted to remove her armour outside rather than at her tent, simply to avoid the inconvenience of carrying all the armour back in her hands. Gallus guessed that he would be roped into helping with that as well. He stood up and started by removing her pauldrons from her shoulders.

"Well, you just spent the last hour or two doing just that. I don't blame you," Gallus said. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about me. I'm really more of a skirmisher than a line soldier, but I've said before that I'll have a spear and a shield with everyone else. I'm not a stranger to formations and battles."

Gallus lifted the second pauldron off at this point and laid it to one side. He proceeded on to the straps holding the armour on the back of her legs securely. "I intend to pick up some potions and scrolls, but apart from that, what I have with me now will suffice."

Gallus then asked, "Not to say that I mind talking about fighting, but are there other things you do in your spare time?" Gallus shrugged, though body language was difficult while behind Ri'vashi. "I mean, apart from everything else that comes with being clan leader." Gallus' tone went to slightly awkward realisation, "You probably don't get much free time, huh."

[hr]
Tzirret didn't stop sobbing, but he found Peiter's words to be kind. "It...still hurts," he answered, not knowing what else to say.

There wasn't really much more talking to do. Tzirret just spent the next several minutes releasing his emotion under his brother's comfort. It wasn't too long before he sniffed and wiped his eyes dry. "Sorry to bother you, Peiter," he said in a tired grumble. "Peiter probably wants to get back to Sabine."