He gave her a nod. "Honey, your husband has one of them living in his fragging head. Jashah has one living among her people. So yes, I was expecting a bit more... control about it. Especially considering... your brother."<br/><br/>He laughed at her take on Barid. "Dear, he was ALWAYS like that. He loved having an audience, he loved being able to show off those little masterstrokes and watch his opponents be flabbergasted. He also is completely amoral, overbearing, self assured, and will cheerfully sacrifice planets if it gives enough of a payoff. Without evacuating anyone. Trust me, that hasn't changed at ALL from when we first fought, my sixteen men against his three platoons and a couple light armored vehicles."<br/><br/>He kept rubbing her back, though he had let go of her head to hold her hand as he sat on the bed, guiding her to his lap. "And yes, he likely would have shown you if you asked. He also knew you wouldn't. It isn't in you, though I am... not sure what the correct phrase is, but direct is the one I will use. I am direct enough to ask him, and honestly expect an answer, and that was why he wanted me on his team originally. So, now that you have calmed down, what is the best option without drawing his Showboatmanship-ness' annoyance down on us? And yes, I did just coin that term."