Hug, hug. Can she reach Ana's hair? She kind of wants to pet Ana's hair.

"Yeah." She considers something.

Ana will bend slightly to facilitate hair-petting.

Hug.

Consider, consider.

...this is probably going to come out sooner or later anyway, isn't it.

"So... what would you think about it if there was a Sith, and they met me, and they found out that I have magic and can teach it, and I told them I wouldn't teach them, and they said 'okay' and let it go?"

"I would be very suspicious. Or think that you must have had some stronger hold over them. They, um, don't tend to let chances like that slide."

The kobold nods, solemnly. "It happened, though."

"... That doesn't really fit with what I know, but I believe you."

Nod. "It doesn't fit with what I've read, either. I think the Sith I met must be an unusual one. But they still exist."

"So you don't think the Sith are all elves? You think that some might be like tigerfolk?"

"Or between the two, yeah. I don't know how common it might be, and from what I've read I think it's better to get rid of all of them than let them stick around if those are the only choices, but I'd like to try to leave a way to talk to the ones that can be talked to, if there are any."

"Yeah. Maybe they would be more willing to, if all the ones who don't want to talk were gone."

Nod.

"And I don't want anything to happen to that one Sith I think we have a chance at talking to, while I'm trying to figure it out, or for anything to happen to make it harder to try to talk to them, so... that was them, in Milliways, and that's why I panicked."

Hug.

"That was..."

"She's dangerous."

Sigh. "Yeah, I know."

"She was stronger than probably half the Council put together. How sure are you that we can talk to her?"

"I'm sure I can, at least to suggest it to them. I expect I can give all of you the defensive spells I'm using, which should make it a lot safer to have you in the same place. I don't know if there are other things I should be worried about, or if getting you in the same place and mostly unable to hurt each other will be enough to be useful."

"Defensive spells and if she can't get to the meeting place ahead of time... that should be enough to talk safely. I don't know about useful."

Nod. "I'm not sure there's a way to know if it can be useful without trying. It's one of the things I was planning on asking about."

"I think... it would really depend on her."

"Yeah. And that, I don't know. I haven't been around them enough to know what their motivations are or anything, just that they're not what the books say to expect."

She considers, and then sighs. "I don't think it's time to make this common knowledge, yet. I think Satele would be okay with it, and a few of the others from last night, but not everybody; I think if the people who don't like the idea of sending the Sith to another universe without killing them knew that I want this too, I might not be able to do either. But I didn't want to keep that from you, if it's going to come up later."

Hug.

"Thanks for trusting me."

Hug.

"I think I've had enough excitement for one day. We can try Milliways again tomorrow. Back to the Academy?"

"Yeah."

And in short order, here they are back in the cafeteria.

Ana fends off a few queries that come in. No, we're fine, just ran into something that surprised us a little while we were out. She's feeling better now, thanks.

It is now legitimately lunch time, and Ana is hungry. Food!