Lion Head Mesa Let's get ethical, ethical. . .

Hmmm, she replied, nodding. I was born in the mountains, in a great valley. Perhaps you've been there. She wondered if Mereo knew of the Empire—if the Empire even still lived, even. Last she knew, Reiko had been murdered and matters there were rapidly disintegrating.

She sat, tail thumping idly against the rock. Were you born there? Lilitu asked.

Talking was a great distraction. Her eyes again examined his body; he was not exactly handsome or refined, but big, rugged and gray, much like one of those mountains. She even entertained the fanciful thought that he had been created from the range itself, rather than being born to wolf parents.