He didn't like the politicking that accompanied any Council meeting, but he had to be patient with men who might be willing to help him. Today his gaze fell to the white-eyed, small man that had addressed nishani the prior day. While he had given them permission to speak to her, he found opportunists distasteful, however loyal they were. Jetr met his gaze with a small smile and deferential bow of his head. A'Ran responded by tipping his chin, and Jetr's attention returned to Opal, who had been speaking too long already.
Jetr was one of the only champions A'Ran had on the Council. A'Ran forced his attention away, certain that this ally was as true as any despite his haste in addressing nishani.
Anyone addressing nishani irritated him. It was abnormal in Anshan, even if her society held no such apparent boundaries. He'd spoken to his sisters in depth and learned quickly just how different she was, their tales ranging from those that ought to anger him to those that amused him. He understood better the tension between Ne'Rin and nishani after several hesitant stories from Talal of their discussions. Nishani had a tongue and habits that shocked all three sisters and did nothing short of aggravate Ne'Rin.
He suspected Ne'Rin didn't care for nishani. Having been raised to serve his dhjan within the boundaries imposed on him, Ne'Rin would have little patience with one who trounced the boundaries that should have been emplaced upon her.
A'Ran hadn't yet addressed Ne'Rin's own failing, that of impregnating his sister without making her a nishani first. It was very unlike his friend and second-in-command to allow his control to slip in such a drastic way. He hadn't yet discovered who Talal's mysterious man was. It was part of the reason he wished to speak to nishani later that day.
If he had it his way, the woman would rarely leave his side. Despite her oddities, she drew him with her large eyes and quick wit. Even though he'd just met her, the bond between them was as strong as his father told him it would be. He wanted to gauge her ability with the strategic battle planning and measure just how intelligent his nishani was. If she proved to be as he suspected she was, she might find herself the first woman in his society given the official position of strategy battle planner, a position traditionally held by the dhjan alone.
Opal, the head of the Council, rose gracefully, pulling A'Ran from his thoughts. He and the others followed his lead.
"We will meet after we dine this evening," Opal said.