Alric shook his hand and held a hand up with a casual smile.

"It's quite all right, Tiamaris. It's a tradition, not an obligation--a tradition, I might add, which is obviously new to you--and I was at home at the time, anyway. It's nothing to worry about, I assure you."

He pauses a moment.

"...besides which, I felt I... owed you, after a fashion, following our... ah... rocky first meeting."