She then tossed a look over her shoulder at Ian, demanding, “See? Elena doesn’t think it’s too loud.”

“I don’t either,” Ian drawled in reply. “Now that it’s burned my retinas into dysfunction.”

“Ian,” Elena whispered in stunned surprise.

“You’re obnoxious,” Domitia accused over Elena’s whisper.

Elena blinked and Cass did not hide his shock at her words, though I got the impression it was not about her rudeness, but her courage in uttering them.

“I’m honest,” Ian returned. “You’d be prettier in pink.”

She let go of Elena and rounded on Ian fully.

“I don’t like pink.”

“Then red.”

“Red is too bold.”

“Then anything that isn’t the color of fruit,” he returned.

“There are pink fruits,” she retorted.

“Name one,” he challenged.

“Berries!” she snapped.

“Berries are sweet and succulent and very good to eat. Citrus is tart and acid and not you,” Ian fired back.

Oh my.

At that, Domitia herself turned very pink, clashing with her gown.

She then whirled on Elena. “He’s been a scoundrel the entire time you’ve been away.”

“She did not think me thus when I took her shopping for that bloody material she’s drowning in, in the now,” Ian told Cassius.

“You do know, we just survived two battles, one of which we were outnumbered, ten to one,” Cassius reminded his friend.

“And I can say with all honesty, deep respect, and equal grief at all I know was lost that for many reasons, I would have rather been there with you than here…shopping,” Ian retorted.

“I might laugh,” I muttered out the side of my mouth to Mars.

“Don’t,” Mars ordered. “I’m uncertain who’s going to blow first, Cass or Ian, but it would be very bad if you were in that firing line, for I would not like it.”

That cured my humor instantly.

“Perhaps we can receive a report?” Cassius suggested drily.

“I’d be delighted,” Ian replied.

“Are these your friends?” Domitia asked, eyeing the rest of us, now that the drama was done, appearing timid.

I also noted at this juncture, Dax Lahn and his Circe were coming into the room from a hallway off to our right.

Elena introduced us to Domitia. She did it warmly, but she did it swiftly.

She then held her hand so as not to indicate Domitia was dismissed when she turned to Ian and said, “Where should we talk?”

“Wouldn’t you like refreshments after your ride?” Domitia asked.

Elena looked down at her. “If you could see to that, we’d be very grateful.”

“It’d be my honor,” she replied, before she grinned at Elena, bobbed a shy curtsy to Mars and me, Farah and True, Frey and Finnie, then she floated on a waft of tangerine silk and ruffles toward a hallway off to the left.

“The Great Hall has the seating,” Ian said.