"Grey stood up as they came in, Azeel hovering protectively behind Rodrigo. The young man stopped, taking a deep breath before bowing deeply to the gentlemen. "Your...servant. Sah," he said to Grey, and then straightened, turned upon his axis, and repeated this process to the general, who watched him with a mixture of fascination and wariness. Every time he saw Rodrigo, Grey's heart was torn between regret for what the young man had once been--and a cautious joy in the fact that some of that splendid young man seemed still to be present, intact, and might yet come back further. He was still beautiful, in a way that made Grey's body tighten every time he saw that dark, finely carved head and the tall straight lines of his body. The lovely cat-like grace of him was gone, but he could walk again, almost normally, though one foot dragged a little."