>>And that, for me, was the climax of the poem. Beautiful.<<

I'm happy to hear that.

Ari seems to a have a knack for striking moments of symbolism. I think that's part of what Gailah sees in her as paladin potential: a subtle instinct for the numinous. If Shahana's paladin style is based on compassion, Ari's is based on serendipity. I can usually tell what Shahana is going to do ... Ari, not so much.