"jI djidn't rrealjize jI'd be sspendjing mjy tjime wjith an old mated couple," Rai droned, glancing to each of her escorts with an unimpressed flattening of her ears.

"Pleasse ssparre me the warr ssstorrjiess of the tjime when jyou ssharred a foxhole and jit wass too cold to be alone. jI've rread that one, and jit wass trrasshjy the fjirrsst tjime."