"The disturbance is my fault. It should be temporary." Sasha thinks she sounds admirably calm, considering that she is a few millimeters away from reconfiguring the common room layout so she can sink into the floor. "Ione, this is not mine to dictate, not in any way, but... If you could keep the hatchling away from your hair, I would appreciate that very much."

She gives Chahle another bite of squashed banana. They're so sweet. All the hatchlings are. There's one curled against Reshad now, probably--only the Prophet can guess what will smash next, if Sasha contemplates that apparent softness--so she watches the Rahal, wondering when they will shift from confusion to hostility.