She accepted the sentiment at face value, assuming his sincerity, as she was wont to do. Nodding, she moved to match his posture on the mat, letting conscious thought wane as she emptied her thoughts. This, she thought, was the real benefit of the exercise: It provided her a brief span in which she was not prisoner to her thoughts, trapped in the endless cycle of fear and uncertainty that had plagued her of late. She could have hugged him for affording her this respite. But that, perhaps, was for another time. Still, she smiled at the thought, and drew a deep breath, exhaling on an audible sigh. "Pax and new friendships," she repeated.