“Julius, I think,” Petrana says, and not only for the sake of her desire, generally, to speak with Julius first on most such occasions— their shared qualifications edging ahead of her affections, and inclination to bounce her thoughts off him when able. “He has made himself a far less divisive figure than any of us, particularly within our division,”

Derrica would, perhaps, not be considered quite so divisive a figure outside of it at all.

“It would be to our benefit to have him represent this proposal to Rutyer, I think.” Descending cat-footed from the great nuggalope's back, she leans against his foreleg and shoulder, considering, straightening her heavy traveling skirts, “And we had best ensure no risk that it will reach our leadership by means other than our choosing.”