Tristian smiled and nodded at him, a tinge of relief on his features, as a means of expressing his gratitude to the assistant war commander. Arkady had a funny smile on his face and was making some amusing movements at the same time. He shrugged his shoulders and walked about with fun little steps on his spot that anybody who could see him would be fooled into thinking he was a member of the military.

"About what just occurred," Tristian said, bringing the topic back to a more solemn degree of seriousness. Arkady then sucked in his breath and straightened his spine before returning to his respectable, professional image that...