The single gemstone embedded in the hilt of the sword flashed brightly for a moment as Valdis' hand brushed the hilt when she reached for a small book, "Perhaps it is something you should work on," she said, "As a Queen, I can say that you have to have the confidence to face people directly, but," she recalled the incident with the metalworkers, "you must be respectful of them at the same time. Sneaking around is neither direct nor respectful."