"The rights of friendship," Alluin said, clinking his wine glass against Zhiolas' cocktail glass. "But I think Zhiolas was talking about the fact that Dain's more powerful than most. It's winter, so his power's in full bloom, and the gods help anyone who tries to take him on when the full moon's up—ow!" he yelped, sloshing his wine onto the table and snapping a glare at Zhiolas, who must have kicked him under the table. "It's not like I can say it!"

"Near enough," muttered Zhiolas. "Forget you heard that, okay, Leah?" he said, turning towards me. "At least when you're talking to our prince. He doesn't like being different and he doesn't like being moon-called."

"No worries," I said, though I knew my confusion wrote itself across my face. "I already knew he doesn't like being different, and the couple of times he's mentioned Faerqen or being moon-called he's certainly not been, you know, psyched about it."

"To say the least," he said, shooting a dark look at Alluin. "I was thinking about how our prince is stronger, faster, and more resilient than most. And, yes, that taking him on in the winter is a bad idea, but I wasn't going to say it."

To compose myself, I took a swig of my beer. The garrison had a really eclectic rotating collection of Earth-side alcohols; today I had a beer from some microbrewery, out of a keg labeled only with the brewery's name and a number. I couldn't place what kind it was, but it was mellow and drinkable, and that's what mattered, I supposed.

"Well," I said, looking at my glass. "I guess I'm glad it's winter, then."

Zhiolas hugged me across the shoulders. "He's got three squads of soldiers with him, he's traveling under a peace banner, and he's not shy about defending himself. It's understandable to worry, nonetheless, but I doubt our prince would want you to make yourself sick with anxiety."

My mouth twitched up into a smile at that. "Given his, shall we say, concern over my well-being, I think you're correct." I still hated what he'd done to the archers, but even dark jokes help bleed off the pain sometimes, and place it in the past. I'd told him that he had a choice; if that was really going to be true, I needed to be willing to allow him to change, rather than always holding him to his past actions. Phase one of that was being able to step far enough back that I could see the why, and understand the man who had done it.

"I doubt protectiveness is a feeling Dain has much experience with," Alluin said with a laugh. "If you ever happen to break a nail or stub a toe in his presence, do share how poorly he handles it."

Next to me, Zhiolas threw his head back and laughed. "My gods, Alluin, be kinder to the poor man! He's not even here to defend himself."