Huang shrugged. "All of us do stupid things from time to time, but I wonder if that Painter respected you enough to leave you alive." Actually, mercy was as likely as respect, but it might never have occurred to her that she might inspire respect among other Painters. The fact that she respected other Painters was a surprise, really quite a pleasant one that made him respect her a great deal suddenly. "Maybe not an exciting tale, but one that is...very different...in an...interesting...way from the others I suspect you have to tell. That being said, what happened to the bandaged foreleg?"