Devaguea smirked, before pointing out that weather wasn't going to stop crazy people, and the barbarians were well known for being crazy. So while it would suck, they still had to have patrols out, though he did concede that they should be kept closer to home to avoid having any just disappear like they did when the Bandersnatch was rampaging.<br/><br/>He looked over Nyrissa with a slight frown, though as a dragon most people couldn't read his expressions very well. And that was before his ability to hide his thoughts was used. To most beings, he was as expressive as a wall. He nodded slightly to the sorceress, before turning his attention back to the paperwork he was working on. It took only a couple seconds to finish, before it was deposited into the 'done' tray, and then the quill was placed on its holder, and his hand pulled her folder from the side, opening it. "Lady Nyrissa, of the region near the town of Silverstep. Congratulations on getting through the combat trials, you are the fourth person to do so, and the first caster as well. In case it wasn't obvious, the whole 'queen' thing was a misunderstanding between myself and one of my guards, though we decided to keep it going to see what talent we could find. The other three who passed the combat trials are now trainers for the guards, and now we get to you."<br/><br/>He flipped to the second page, the first being the form she had submitted as her application, to the information Talia had uncovered. "So, you have a unique opportunity to audition for the position of apprentice to the only dragon sorcerer royalty in this part of the world."<br/><br/>The smile he gave her was equally cheerful and feral. "Impress me."