"It will get easier with practice," Saetan assured him, also speaking quietly. The other lads could continue to chatter between themselves for awhile, laughing and teasing one another as they experimented with colors.

Saetan made a mental note to have some of the merchants in town send him more face paint. All of his was tinted for Hayllian males: brown-skinned, dark-haired, and golden-eyed. The boyos were from short-lived races and were correspondingly paler.

"Hmmm," he said, coming to the same realization about subtle that Warren had before. "We're going to have to go dramatic with you. But not much. Just around the eyes. Anything else will be too much, unless we go with the slightest hint of color on your lips." He leaned forward, pot of kohl and brush at hand. "May I?"