Ah, politics. Alia nods, then sighs. "Understandable on your Uncle's part. We'll just have to weather any grumbling."

Alia tucks her head under his chin. "I'm trying to convince Mother to invite the Fang for a visit during the break this year, around Calibration. Parties would be ever so much more bearable with you and our friends there and we wouldn't have to be apart for so long."