Only now did Ariel fully feel the force of Hal-Neesa's personality. While initially shocking, the directness did kick everyone to attention. More shocking to Ariel was the kind of magic she was using so effortlessly.

"Very well," Ariel said, as much to ground herself as to not seem petrified. "I think, perhaps, we might start by framing the problem such that we have the same understanding of the effects we are working on. The stigma against necromancy, without getting into the ethics of it, has sadly left its terms and concepts...less standardised than other areas. We may need to record some notes of our own while we are here."

[hr]
Tzirret closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. "All of those things," he said with some gravel in his voice. "I think she has changed both of us already. Er...in good ways, of course."

"Only three weeks?" Sabine asked as they all sat back down by the fire. "But that would mean you gave birth not long before you came here! And set up an infirmary, too." She knitted her brow sympathetically. "Ma-...Ko'tanza, are you not...exhausted?"