Haidar averted his eyes for a moment. He knew she was right; he was with her every step of the way. This waiting was not their way. But he was determined that it would pay off. He would have failed so many if it didn't; Isliea, P'Tulla, Olivia, and not least of all his warriors that he had kept from their birthright for weeks.<br/><br/>"What is and what should be,<br/>but which is which?<br/>The waiting festers,<br/>while the warring wounds."<br/><br/>After reciting a bit of his so out-of-place poetry, the enormous warrior-king fell silent and went back to his meal again. His muscles flexed almost against his will. She was aching for battle, even mock battle, as well. The temptation to order her down to the training grounds was unreal, but would it be appropriate? He had made a point never to duel P'Tulla; if he defeated her, then he would undermine her reputation as first sword. But if she defeated him, then he would look weak as king. The way things were, both were acknowledged as mighty warriors, but rarely directly compared and with no hard evidence for one or the other.