“Never understood the need for private retainers,” the woman named Kamala says. “You’re an antiquated notion at best. At worst you interfere with Crache’s chosen peacekeepers.”

Daian is obviously battling with himself to remain composed. “That’s enough out of you, I think.”

“Speaking of blades, small or otherwise, those look well-used,” Kamala says, ignoring him.

She’s pointing at Taru’s short sword and hook-end.

Taru says nothing.

“The retainer here’s the one who bled those two in the Circus, no?” Grath asks Daian.

“What did I just say, Aegin?” Daian asks, his voice on a rise.

“It’s quite all right,” Lexi says, stepping directly in front of the smug Aegin. “Actually that would be me who drew blood first.”

“Forgive me, Te-Gen,” Grath says immediately, and with the appropriate bow of contrition, though the unhidden smile on his handsome face belies it all. “We Aegins are always… intrigued… by the decision of our city’s highest servants to supplement their personal safety with such people.”

Kamala adds, “And yours is a choice even more…”

“Intriguing?” Lexi asks, and she seems all at once more composed than she did a moment ago.

The Aegins say no more.

“Perhaps we can sate your curiosity, Aegins,” Taru offers, surprising everyone, including Lexi. “This is a place of learning, is it not?”

“What are you proposing?” Daian asks.

“Yes, what are you proposing, Taru?” Lexi seconds, though she seems less concerned and more amused than Daian.

“A simple exhibition of knife skills,” Taru explains.

Clearly Daian doesn’t know what to say to that. Grath and Kamala, meanwhile, both stare up at Taru uneasily, the sudden reality of actually meeting the retainer on their own training mat changing their attitudes.

“Our business will keep a moment,” Lexi says to Daian brightly, though she’s looking at the other two Aegins. “And I don’t believe this matter will require much longer than that to resolve.”

The retainer looks from Lexi to Grath and Kamala, then back at their mistress. Taru unfastens the heavy belt securing short sword and hook-end to their owner’s waist. Lexi accepts her retainer’s weapons and holds them close as Taru extends a hand toward Daian.

Though he slaps the handle of his training dagger into Taru’s palm, it’s Lexi he’s watching.

She looks back at him with hard eyes.

He seems to take something from that, and nods, relenting. “Very well, then. Class!”

The Aegins-in-training kneeling dutifully around the perimeter of the mat all shout “Hai!” in unison.

“We have a special guest in our dojo today,” he informs them. “A retainer serving Gen Stalbraid. This retainer has volunteered to pit their skills against those of your Aegin instructor so that we may study the contrast in styles and training, and learn how to overcome that clash of aesthetics in combat.”