Then she was there, melting out of the darkness, voice ringing out the thoughts and concerns that had dwelt within his mind. Ah, she knew him so well, knew how to read the situation so clearly. He bent his head slightly toward the shadow mare, a soft huff of air through his nares his only greeting in return to the brush of her shoulder against his. Small gestures, but loaded with unspoken meaning that didn't even begin to approach coloring the cool monotone of the Weyrleader speaking to a prisoner of her herd.
It was only then that the scaled stud turned his slitted golden eyes upon Chemical once more, unerring and calm did he watch her. "As I told you before, no harm shall come to your or your offspring so long as you cooperate. We do not want to do harm to you and yours, but the ones you keep company with insist on testing our patience. Even a dragon's patience can be tried only so far before something must be done about the irritant." Quiet humor hummed in his deep voice. What would it take for the Assassins to realize that it was unwise to interfere with the business of the Qian? They had lost one leader under the watch of the Edge, and now two of their members were captives while their new leader faced one of the Wingleaders. Would they try to win this mare's freedom before they realized that the only way he and his comrades would stand down was with honest assurances of no future conflict?