"I'm not going to flatter them," Sina says icily, walking back to the horse to take her staff from where it's hooked. Then she unbridles it to graze and leads it to where the others' horses stand, ready to take off if necessary.
Staff in hand, she returns to the other two, her expression uncharacteristically hard with resolve.
"Let's go, then."

(shall we jump to the next thread?)