Conflicting thoughts quickly ran through Luna's head. From the reports I got after Lyra's first meeting, and from her courtroom testimony, Dale is generally stand-offish, although he has slowly become more affectionate. Not to the point Noble Voice implied, though—if that truly was Lyra's hope, she's grazing at the wrong pasture. But stallions are more reserved, and that might hold true for their species as well. If that's the case, it would be unwise to not accept the gesture, as she may have more authority to treat than he does.