Ikoral raised one of the spurs above his eyes in admittedly downplayed amusement at the banter between the Kontauri and the Stoinian representatives, and cracked a smile.  The first full, GENUINE smile he had shown in the time he had arrived.  The High Wanderer of Aari wheezed and stammered incoherently , as if she had just witnessed a sign of the End Times themselves, her gaze flicking between her fellow Drakari and Protectorate races, then to Singh.  'Is this... is this really happening?!'  She blinked a few times.  Surely her eyes were playing tricks on her... they were not.  'THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!  LORD IKORAL IS  REALLY SMILING!  In PUBLIC, no less!'

Shieldfather Attius couldn't help but snicker at his summer counterpart's confusion.  He knew it was only a matter of time before either Vassenia or Ikoral threw each other for a loop, though he didn't expect it to happen on a foreign world.  "Say, Mirala, how long do you think before those two finally form some kind of relationship beyond strained tolerance?"

The Kri'ghal giggled as she watched the display, her smile roguish and playful.  "I reckon before the festival is done, they'll have shared a drink or two.  Don't count on him joining a hunt, though.  He'd probably send one of his Mansatzis to represent him.  He always seemed more a politician than a warrior."

"I wouldn't say that.  You should have seen the duel he had with Lord Sadow had a few years back.  Over the latter's fascination with alchemy, no less!"