a north wind, colder than the others we've known
Maryani quite likes the Peloi--they do have those annoyingly strict gender roles, but she's come to accept such things as mere facets of existing in any country, and it's not as if they restrain her. Their wild, nomadic ways are not unlike her own of years past, and moreover the men are very entertaining. She's noticed some of the women tend to be a little bit nasty and jealous, but certainly not all.
The women have been given their own pavilion, while the men discuss matters of business or whatever it is they're meant to discuss, and that doesn't bother Maryani much, either. Ehlana would ordinarily protest, she's sure, but they're all a bit engaged in the matter of Mirtai and Kring's courtship--which Maryani hopes comes to fruition, though she can't be sure it will. Atan women have their own way of doing things, that much she knows.
She peers out of the pavilion she and the other women have occupied, watching as Mirtai exits and Kring immediately strides toward her.
That kind of devotion is remarkable, in Maryani's opinion. She briefly considers telling Nourelle to marry one of the Peloi, but also recognizes that her daughter has very different instincts to hers on these matters.
Also, Nourelle is still chasing Khalad.
Maryani likes watching these little entanglements. They're a good distraction.