"My softer nature," she echoed with some amusement. "Anyone who thinks I am soft knows me not." At least she didn't think she was very soft. She had soft moments, but she could not consider herself soft in any sense of the word. So she didn't. But she got the feeling he was still... yanking her chain, as the saying went.

Ziio mirrored him with some amusement. "We both do, I should think. If you are going to tease, do so where no one except I can hear. And I will repay you in kind."