Narsi pressed her lips together around her tusks. "Fine," she said firmly. "Just so long as I get to beat you up in the end. I'll do that one way or another." She got just brave enough to give Lorag a glance in the eyes. "Every time you talk shit about me and momma, I promise I'll hit you harder. And she didn't raise me to go back on what I say, you hear me!?"

No one could claim Narsi did not have her heart in it. It was [i]almost[/i] pathetic.

[hr]
Janius started with a few nods. He clasped his hands behind his back as if he was being inspected by an officer. [i]"He did have a naming ceremony and we have taught him to hunt in...different terrain to the marsh, but he is a self-sufficient and sharp boy. His experience here has been limited to our journey to find you, so we have caught some food together and Kaleeth has taught him some customs."[/i] Janius swallowed. [i]"But he has not [/i]lived[i] here, as you might understand."[/i]