After nearly two entire seconds of sheer, abject terror, Tycon regained his bearing, firmly placed his hands over Natalya's, and corrected the rotation of Starfury's front-to-back axis.
"I-- I'm not answering!" Natalya yelped.
It took Tycon several more seconds for him to remember the conversation from moments prior.
That woman... she had a strong heart.
Or, otherwise, she did not fear a painful and violent death.
"Besides," she said-- "I can't abandon Troia to pursue happiness on my own..."
Ah. That made sense. Natalya and the High Oracle were as close as blood-related sisters.
A slow smile crossed Tycon's lips... as he decided to tempt death once more.
"Natalya," he said... "if Troia was to give her blessing, would you accept my marriage proposal?"
"S-stop testing me, Snake," came the soft, quavering response.
