"My commitment to the Cantata is the only tie that isn't obvious," Sasha tells Reshad. She doesn't like speaking of this openly: she feels exposed in a way that isn't logical, not when the chain of oaths is nearly military in its directness. Jedao's oath hooks into her own promise to Ashari, and that's almost all there is, that single line.

She's half-grateful to Gerae, therefore, for the distraction. She suspects he has not understood the cost to Ione of reading people, so she still leads with "You don't want to scry him thoroughly yourself?" But her sarcasm lacks bite.