Piotr waves off the politesse. "Save your deference for the Emperor. A salute will do."

At the sound of soft nickering, his glance strays toward the tent flap, but only briefly. His gaze shifts back to Lakshmi, studying her with an intense curiosity.

"Are you some kind of warrior, where you come from?"

She seems to have the bearing of one. A lot of women like that among the outsiders, it seems. Not something Piotr had expected.