Maia glared when the Magus first spoke, then looked stunned when the woman being accused of spending time looking down on others. Some of her anger dissipated despite the edge in Galadon's voice, but she still had to speak her mind. "I understand that you have your fears of this rival nation, but you must understand that it's rather infuriating to first deal with your soldiers drawing steel on me when I came to them unarmed, and now to hear you suggest that the things I told you could have been spun by someone from Cheliax. Doubts, I can take. Suspicion is fine. But I'm not one of -them- and I'm tired of being linked to them. I did not make any of this up and I couldn't possibly make any of it up! It might just be a story to you... Something to pen into a book. But for us Shory, it was what stole us from the sky, killed us and twisted us and our home. Do you think it was easy to tell you all of that? To come to you alone? Everytime I speak of it, I can see the nightmare in my mind's eye."<br/><br/>She didn't even realized she'd been clenching her fists until those last words left her lips. She deflated with a loud sigh, then shook her head. "I'm sorry. Deliberate as you must. But whether or not you aid us, just...please stop linking us to your enemies. I'll return in a day." She turned to leave before she paused, then spoke without looking back. "If you refuse to help me lift the curse, then I suggest you leave this land. Tarry here too long, and the devourers and Shoggoth will come for you. There is no end to their hunger. You don't want to become them."