Melody's heart was pounding by the time Kengetar finished. Was it anger or fear or a combination of both? At the same time, though, she was feeling a third emotion: regret.

She looked to Broon, who by now had his second hand wrapped about the handle of his sword and the weapon pulled out of its sheath just enough to loose it from the tension that prevented it from falling out in the case of a fall or other disorienting situation. She asked and -- when the man didn't move -- repeated, "Kapiten, will you excuse us?"

As the reluctant officer turned and unhurriedly departed -- moving only barely out of the tent and keeping a crack in the flap's opening to watch the happenings inside the tent -- Melody turned and paced about slowly a moment, considering her response. In a much softer voice than before, she said, "It was [i]not[/i] a bluff, Kengetar. I am not [i]playing[/i] at conquering warlord ... for two reasons. First, I have made no attempts to [i]conquer anything[/i] in Sedent territory. 

"The incident yesterday ... it was tragic and regretful. If I had been with the party that initially rode to the camp to speak with your leaders, the massacre -- and yes, I admit, it was a massacre, a regretful massacre on the part of [i]my[/i] people -- if I had been present, it would not have happened.

"I made a mistake in not preventing my force from attacking you," she continued, her tone sincere. "I ... I reacted spontaneously; my people were attacked, so ... I returned the favor. I spoke with a Sedent woman today, a woman I believe you know ... Elbara. She says she was within earshot of the exchange between your people and mine. She says each side said some things that were ... [i]inciting[/i]. She claims the fight was the fault of the Sedent, but ... I think she believed that was what I wanted to hear. I must admit this: I sent the wrong men to speak with your Chief ... and people died."

She hesitated a moment, then addressed more of what Kengetar had said. "Yallans may not be Sedents, but they are [i]soft[/i]. I have no way to prove this to you at the moment other than to put one of my warriors in the Fighting Circle opposite yours. I won't do that ... not here, not now." Her lips spread a bit before she added, "Maybe after the Capital."

She began walking back toward the man again, addressing one last point that she felt had to be made. "You are my guest, Kengetar ... you and your people ... [i]not[/i] hostages or slaves or prisoners of war. And I will treat you like guests, as opposed to the other possibilities."

Now, close to him and looking up into his pale grey eyes, she said in a low but firm tone, "But I am the leader of Clan Yalla. My people look to me for guidance, support, and -- when the time calls for it -- courageous and unflinching leadership onto the battlefield. They will [i]not[/i] follow me if they think I am weak ... and you, here tonight, chastising me with my Clan's most important officers and Elders within ear shot simply [i]cannot[/i] happen again ... whether I am [i]right[/i] or whether I am wrong makes no matter. If you cannot show me the respect in front of the others that those [i]others[/i] show me..."

She hesitated again, stepped back, and swept a hand toward the tent's exit, finishing, "...then I regretfully ask you to return to your people ... and to your village. I will seek my revenge on my own. I will die in doing so, of course. But in contrast to how you may think of me ... [i]I'm[/i] not afraid of a fight."