Dragoncrest Cliffs waiting for the 7.18

 For a moment Étoille does not expect Ajatar to actually tell him anything. But she begins to speak and he takes a seat, his surprise not reaching his face as he intently listens. It is easy enough to understand - Fos Goufa is the next in the line of succession. 

The commander's spirit, Ajatar says, and this time the surprise does touch his eyes but faintly. He had not expected a spiritual component to Drageda's ways, given how practical much of its structure is. This sort of thing.. well, it goes over his head, a bit. Not that he finds it distasteful or discounts it, but he does not necessarily believe it, either. He supposes he doesn't have to in order to respect the position -- all that matters is that he understands the weight of its importance.

Ajatar's conclusion immediately brings Heda's family to mind. It's funny to imagine the serious Heda as some sort of rebellious spirit (no pun intended). He is not empathetic enough to feel the gravity of the revelation - from what he's seen, Heda has a fine handle on things and her children are capable warriors themselves. "I see," he says, finally. "That ... sounds difficult." Or rather, he can see how it could sound difficult (though the Rauna himself would probably have done well in a similar position - not as a warrior, but content enough to forsake family.)