"Oh, it won't," Lasha said, matter-of-factly, as he closed the door, but Andrei's housepet mattered little to him at this juncture. He was languid, his mood was eased and mellowed.

The fire had settled down to glowing embers, and needed to be restoked.

He noted that vaguely as he turned away.

Oleksei was standing there, silently, and Ilarion smiled, a slightly obfuscated expression.

"Well, that just leaves you and I, doesn't it Captain."