Though she was grateful for Gene's quick thinking with the shield, Valdis drew her sword halfway out of its scabbard at the sound of the voice. An instant later, however, she had slipped it back inside, mirroring Zanru's stance, eyeing the pistol on the womans's hip.

"So," she began, ignoring the question since Gene had already answered it, "You are still alive."

She had only spoken to Zanru once, and the woman hadn't seemed to have lost her cold edge.

"I don't suppose you know where Celaunn is? Or what the Justicar is really looking for?"