Sabine listened on. She neither had an objection nor did she appear confused. However, the question of gathering everyone up made her reluctant. She rubbed her shoulder with her hand and blinked away. "Maybe not tonight. I am very tired and still a bit shaken." She glanced at Meesei. "Could we do tomorrow night? I would like to just be in your company tonight. And Lunise and Karl are busy so it would be easier for them, probably."

Sabine did not expect there to be a problem. The topic brought a similar question to her head as she was asked. "How are you and Lunise? Have you seen each other since we met her outside of Sentinel?"

[hr]
Rhazii opened his palms forward in objection. "Then what happened earlier today!? I saw you get shot in the chest, mother! Aunt Kaleeth came back unconscious! You were ambushed and Julan and I couldn't do anything."

"You would have died, Rhazii," Fendros said firmly.

Rhazii pointed with his free hand. "You [i]could[/i] have died!"

"Rhazii, that's enough! It is not up to you whether you go to battle or not. You are [i]not[/i] ready."

"That's stupid!-"

"That is the truth!"

Fendros had reached the end of his tether. So had Rhazii. In spite of the reasoning, his face twisted into bared teeth and pinned ears. He threw his waster flat onto the stone floor. It cracked and bounced as the wood split. He was stomping away before it was still.

"Rhazii! Stop right there!" Fendros shouted.

Rhazii did not stop or turn around. He instead yelled back in a voice that was clearly breaking into held-back tears. "Get lost!"

Fendros exhaled sharply. His face softened. He addressed Ri'vashi in as polite a voice as he could give. "I am so sorry for wrapping you into this, Ri'vashi. We did not intend for things to get out of hand. Thank you for your patience with our son, but..." He looked at Rhazii's back. Rhazii found some stairs to sit upon and bury his face in his hands with. "...We had better take it from here."

The remaining soldiers had already dispersed to return to their drills.