Northstar Vale My crystal nails.

tamar listened.

she inclined her head toward arsenio with a nod, turned her face toward maxim.

she focused upon towhee.

all was gathered in her mind before she spoke. "two men who are clearly built for war coming down into the canyon?" she looked lightly at maxim. "if i come with you, i show peace. we will bring them flowers. i think that we should come in trade."

but; she lifted her chin. "my sons are young. i do not want to go. but i think i will be able to speak, with only two of us, arsenio." too many seemed like force. too few looked like weakness. there was an image to hold, this much she had learned from her place as satsu's servant. "i will find who they are. we will not know what to do until we know why they have come."

"i will stay behind if we vote," and here she returned maxim's small smile.