Hal-Neesa leaned in towards Fendros, locking eyes with him without a hint of any of her former amusement. "I do not suffer fools, nor foolish beliefs. And I will not inconvenience myself for them. This thrall will be my property, and I will not be parting with it. Make up whatever story you like, if you fear your people hurting themselves trying to seek revenge on me. Tell them the body was lost, or whatever else you feel like. Just don't trouble me with it. And speaking of thralls..."

Neesa turned her head towards Ahnasha. "Have you prepared my thralls for inspection, or do you still have work to do?"

Ahnasha let out a quick breath. "Right. I will go raise them from the ground. It will just be a few minutes." 

Ahnasha stepped outside without delay, leaving the others with Neesa. She paused, taking a sip of the tea Sabine had prepared, then pushing one of the other cups along the table towards Fendros. "Find something to sit down on. It's irritating to have everyone standing around and staring awkwardly. Your wife speaks of you as someone exceptional, Fendros, but if you are, then you're quite good at hiding it. Even in this place, far removed from 'proper' civilization, I find myself annoyed by close-minded fools. It actually confuses me, in a way. The ways of your people, Hircine's followers, are so...close to actually being something respectable. Influence through merit, individual strength and skill, yet still in service to the whole...you know, we are not as different as you may think. I have to admit, there are some among you, like your wife, that have that certain...spark. The potential to be something more. It is something I look for in people, and do find from time to time. They are the types of people I occasionally bring into my court to...foster their potential."