text: Arilash rubbed her face with her forepaws. "I'm confused now. Are you upset because the drakes are trying to choose, or do you actually want to marry Csirnis instead of Nrararn? Or even Osoth instead of Nrararn?"
  
  Which was a very good question. "I can't imagine being Csirnis's wife. Can you?"
  
  She laughed. "I tried imagining it a lot! I had to!"
  
  "Didn't work, did it?"
  
  Arilash giggled. "Not a bit. The first thing I'd imagine is how I'd possibly twine someone else, maybe a month later, maybe two. What thought was clawing you?"
  
  "Not that one! He's always so superior and perfect. He's the best at everything, or maybe a close second and more elegant than the best. He doesn't actually say it very often, but he definitely knows it. And acts like it goes without saying, and is the most natural thing in any universe."
  
  "He is that good. How should he act? If he were a traditional drake, he'd be boasting about it constantly. That would be worse, wouldn't it?" asked Arilash.
  
  "Yes... he's the best about being the best... but I still don't want to feel so insignificant whenever I look at my husband," I said.
  
  "You won't with Nrararn. He's good at what he's good at, but that's only some things. Is he good enough to be a husband for you? Especially if you're going to try to keep ruling Hove?"
  
  "I will definitely need allies."