He watches his tea the entire time Lan Zhan speaks, unable to meet his eye, as if this were a reprimand and not a fierce encouragement.

"I was too overwhelmed by it," he says, softly. "And I did not know if it would disrupt the ceremony, if I did." He exhales another small, humorless laugh. "Another thing I should have throught to ask the Ninth before we began."

He drinks.