Clove watched the predator curiously over its mistress's shoulder. She was a very polite predator, the drutten decided. Even though there was a nice big prey across the table, the predator was staying on her own master's shoulders.

"Almost two years," Siddie said, smiling. "We met when we were both first-years. It doesn't seem very likely, does it?" She laughed softly. "Sammy is very active and much more outspoken than I, but she has helped me learn to stand up for myself, and sometimes I think I have been some kind of influence in gentling her rougher edges. She's a good person."