Todd nearly struck at her, but as though her touch were sapping him of his anger, he quickly dropped his fist, rage subsiding to irritation and then to a blank and empty feeling.

He drew in and blew out a shuddering breath to calm himself. The commander didn't look at her for a long time, perhaps ashamed of his outburst. But, eventually he did look to her.

"We've been without a queen for so long." he sighed. "What's another decade or so?" he added dryly.