<em>"...but they also view a Queen holding onto power without taking a king the same way, believing a woman too weak to be fit to rule."</em><br/><br/>Tehr couldn't help but scoff, his snort of derision showing his feelings on that matter.  Though he didn't interrupt her with words, he found such a notion ridiculous.  His life had been filled with strong women, strong in their own ways of course.  Even when his father had been alive, his mother had been his father's partner, not servant.  The death of his father, then brother had shown her strength, how she bore through the grief and pain with an inner core of willpower.  His early days as a teen, bedding his first woman, now one of his best friends Angelique.  While she was a servant she was smart and capable and had a wisdom that he valued and trusted.  His sister was not as strong of will as Angelique or his mother, but she had the sort of mental flexibility and adaptability as well as playful wit that showed her own brand of strength.  Alexandria d'Hesfal, the changeling woman who he had taken on as an apprentice, that most of the world only knew as Alex ir'Hesfal, strong enough to fool the world into not even realizing she was a woman, playing the game masterfully.<br/><br/>No, Tehr was no fool to think that women were less than men, and while he certainly said nothing to interrupt Queen Elizabeth's speech, certainly in that moment when he scoffed, his attitude showed clear on his face his feelings on that matter.<br/><br/><strong>"You give wise advice my love," </strong>Tehr said nodding his head before rolling to the side of the bed and standing.  Stretching his body, gloriously nude and magically refreshed after their last round, he moved to gather his wine glass, forgotten for so long.<strong>"Though I never thought myself a lion, I see the analogy for what it is." </strong>He pondered for a moment and took a sip of his wine.  Quietly almost so quietly that Queen Elizabeth may not have heard him, he muttered,<strong> "Now my brother James, there was a lion if ever the Wynt house had one." </strong>Then he drained his glass, silently mourning for the moment the loss of his strong and bold older brother.<br/><br/>He thought often in his youth how much he'd like to be more like his brother James, strong and brave and bold, athletic and charming.  James was to be the leader of house Wynt of course before his death and Tehr did miss him.  But he wondered, would James have done what he had done?  James had been more cautious, more traditional certainly.  Might he have allied with Dale early on?  Maybe even accepted the marriage proposal of Janne Faudin d'Dale  thereby tying the house Wynt to the traitorous house Dale?  Such a thing would have been possible for certain.  James didn't have the instincts with women that Tehr did, and certainly part of Tehr's hesitance with Janne had been his desire to continue tomcatting, something James didn't do.<br/><br/>Tehr repressed a slight shudder and brought the queen her wine glass, refilling it half way before he did.<strong>"In any regard I thank you for your sage advice and find that our association has been quite a boon, and hopefully you feel the same.  Now, I admit I am quite drained from the last few hours of pleasurable excercise, and need a little while to refresh my stores.  I do not wish to force the outside world into this peaceful retreat, but would offer my own advice if you wish it.  I sensed that there is an issue that vexes you in court, maybe I might be able to shed new insight on it if you were to talk about it?  If you wish of course."</strong>