The boy's tone surprises her. Lashan blinks, bringing her attention back to the moment. She almost smiles - now he's acting his age. Still, evidently she's hurt him. She opts not to acknowledge the defensive misogynistic cast to his thoughts, though it's pretty typical of males in the area.

"If by 'real fight' you mean the way you do, yes. Most people can't swing a steelbride well enough to make it worth using. I can't, and it's a bit too late to learn now." The plains aren't rich in metal and combustibles to work it with, so steel is mostly from elsewhere, and mostly in forms many different people can use. And which are more manageable on the scruffy little horses the clans ride. But that's not really what she should be addressing, is it?

"Boy..." No, she should say his name this once. "Guts. The fact of the matter is that I don't know you. None of us know you." Mind-gifts just can't take the place of experience and familiarity with someone. Maybe if she'd spent all day and night rooting through his head, but who has the time? "I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. I do. I'm aware that you're very strong and capable. But holding back is an entirely different set of skills. We've had girls here so used to having to do everything they could to survive that they struggled to see lesser problems as anything other than life and death."

Vena, who's appeared in the doorway as Lashan spoke, hastily steps back out of it.