Rene smiled at Solae as they stepped through the gracefully movements of the dance. Alien both in their biology and aesthetics, Kalderi music was none the less intelligible to the human ear. Like mathematics the rules of tone and tempo were a universal rather than a cultural peculiarity and though odd and exotic still organised themselves into recognizable patterns. With the stress of possible challenges lifted from his shoulders Rene found he was rather enjoying himself. There were far worse ways to spend time than dancing with the woman you loved afterall. The circled the ballroom in graceful arcs, intersecting with Kalderi couples as the music dictated before sweeping onward.

"There is obviously a good deal more to it that Totlya is admitting, maybe even to himself. I'm not a diplomat but I feel like if his case were as cut and dry as he presented it, he wouldn't have had to seize on a challenge to bring it up. The other Kalderi seemed all but covering their faces in embarrassment..." There was brief pause in conversation as Rene slid his arm around Solae's waist and dipped her dramatically to the ground. In the Kalderi equivalent the female's wings brushed the ground but the human's settled for allowing their hair to touch. Out of the corner of his eye Rene saw Rosaria's partner nearly drop her as he didn't realize she lacked wings until it was nearly too late.  Rene straightened and lifted Solae back to her original stance, enjoying the soft curve of her hips underneath his hand as he did so.

"I can't imagine the Kalderi would have let a full on kidnapping go unanswered, such a thing would have galvanized the community instantly, so at the very least there is dissent about whatever happened," Rene mused. The music slowed and some of the Kalderi and, Rene noted, Rosaria selected new partners, he didn't let go of Solae to give anyone a chance to take her, though he did see more than a few glances. The music shifted to another graceful air and they began the new dance.

"For that matter, I suspect the local traders would have taken steps if it came to that, its obvious that the market is more valuable to humans than it is to Kalderi, and they aren't going to risk it getting shut down for bad behavior. Maybe we can ask around there after we talk to Toltya." If nothing else Rene was intrigued to see how humanity and the Kalderi intersected here on Ranal Pindi, he dared to hope that one day, when Tan was defeated and peace was restored, that the Eastern Cross under Solae's leadership would have far more to do with their enigmatic neighbors than had previously been the case. What wonders the Kalderi might share, and what wonders lay beyond their borders were to tantalizing to let ancient fears and xenophobia bury them. Not for the first time Rene wondered what was happening back on Capella and if Imperial forces had yet made any attempt to reach the Eastern Cross. For the Empress to be taking shelter with Rene's father, for the Empress to leave the Crystal City for any reason, argued that things were extremely unsettled there. Tan was also not an idiot and couldn't imagine that he could face down the Stellar Empire single handed, that meant he had confederates in other parts of the Empire, probably partisans of Mercedez' late and unlamented father who were less than pleased to see the gains that had made being eroded by a young and energetic Empress. Mentally he could compile a list of such people, gleaned from listening at many of his father's dinners and hunting parties, but without access to information from the wider universe it was pointless to speculate. He thought of those rapacious and dissolute fools and contrasted them with the honest kindness and concern for others that Solae displated.

"I am very proud of you my love," Rene whispered to Solae as he held her close in the intimate steps of the dance, fingers gently stroking her hair.

"I am lucky to have you."