Gallus was already motioning to start walking. "I don't know if the healers would stop working at this rate, but there is unlikely to be a better time than now."

On the quick trip to the tent, Gallus made his tension completely clear in his body language. Despite the intimacy that he and Ri'vashi had shared the previous day, he didn't even glance in her direction. His paces were brisk and his shoulders were slightly hunched. He was a completely different person.

Gallus pat his hand against the entrance to the tent when they reached it, before lifting the flap and stepping through. He hesitated upon seeing Meesei, but didn't shift his face. He stepped aside to make room for Ri'vashi and let either her or the champion begin.

Sabine gave the visitors a curious glance, but she was too engrossed in her alchemy to give them any more notice.

[hr]
Fendros did not dance around the issue as Ahnasha did. "It was the thrall, Ahna. You raised the body of one of our fallen soldiers. It turned to dust and now his friends and family will never be able to lay him to rest themselves." There was a dull thud and ring as Fendros' sword and scabbard dropped to the floor. He continued speaking as the rustling of his leather and padding soon followed.

"Look, I..." He stopped and sighed. "I know you. You're not the kind of person that gains pleasure from the suffering of others, but...I've been noticing things. Since you started researching this..." Fendros raised one palm upward and shook his head. "...This life extension. The cadavers. You may be used to them, Ahna, but the way you speak about it so callously..." Fendros' face softened. "What has changed?"