His initial reaction had just been born out of the fact that he hadn't realized a married pair had been summoned, but when Nadine says older than I look, as if she's been questioned over it before, that turns into a genuine curiosity. She smells human, in here, but perhaps there's more to her. There must be, if the bones of her domain were anything to go by.

"Seems to be a common theme around here," he says. No one knows a damn thing. The city-states will do what they will; go to war as they desire. Thorne having a splintered allegiance with one of its own is interesting, though. Worth keeping in mind. Perhaps Relena was right when she said the queen was desperate. Maybe Thorne's ruling family has been losing their grasp on their people more than they've let on.

He turns the bottle in his hand, considering. "I can't say how much safer anyone else is outside of Thorne. Suppose we'll have to see."