"Tempting, but no thanks," Elayne tells Salem, pausing to eavesdrop on his conversation with Al as well as she can and to wonders why Salem showed so much interest in Jasper's elephant carving. She has been assuming that Salem is from a perhaps radically different version of Earth from her own, but it crosses her mind for the first time that perhaps she is wrong about his origins in the first place.
Serid lowers his eyes as Ossanlin speaks about how he will most likely be perceived by his own people as a lesser being. It fills him with the same rage, long since dulled, that he has felt ever since permanently becoming a human. Do they not realize I took the most honorable path available to me? Would they have rather I become a second Alloran? The familiar thoughts roil in his stomach.
Finally he speaks, exerting effort to maintain a calm tone. <<Despite the potential difficulties, I am interested in pursuing de-nothlitization. If you have... tasks, perhaps outside of the usual assignments, that you would like me to complete in return for your significant efforts, I would be honored to comply. My hope, however potentially foolish, is that I could be reinstated into the military more easily if I regain my former body.>>
He pauses and then adds, <<War Prince, I would be... grateful if you would not mention your knowledge of my existence to anyone. I am presumed dead, killed in duty; such a fate may be perceived as more honorable than what has truly become of me, especially to my family.>>
