"How do you fare?" Haidar asked, sitting down at the table. He pulled a leg off a chicken, bringing it to his mouth and tearing the meat off in almost a single bite. The poultry was moist and savory, the skin crisp and tasting of salt as he chewed. He grabbed up a peeled horned melon, taking a bite out of the tangy, sour melon. Still, the ravenous king paused for a moment. "Help yourself if you wish," he said calmly after a titanic swallow.<br/><br/>He looked her up and down, evaluating his First Sword as he so often evaluated all of his subordinates. The woman was lithe, toned, and graceful; she was a warrior first. He had always admired that about her. But there was also a beauty about her fiery hair and emerald eyes that, like so many other Nydewians, he found exotic. Still, he harbored no thoughts of bedding her. The king did not want to so complicate with the woman he entrusted his life to.