Lunise smirked. "In physical strength, perhaps, but not in experience," she dared. "And experience is a mark of the better mage. Not that you ever proved you are better to begin with."

She turned her eyes to Nytala. "We do argue. Not as often as before we grew close, but often enough. Meesei just happens to be the perfect combination of confident enough to push back and earn my respect, while being disconnected enough from the politics and risks of my occupation to share honesty." She breathed in some of the steam from her cup. "It is lonely work to be a justicar on sole assignment. Working with the lycans has been the hardest diplomatic assignment I have ever undertaken. And yet it is, by aggregate, the one where I have received the most affection and care."