Yeah, aware of her is a good way to put it, but then she had been the whole time. Mahalia has been glued to the lady's skirts for a few days now, and nobody got that close to Jast's daughter without Paderau doing a thorough background check. It's different meeting in person though, really watching the way all the energy curls and froths at the center of her. The warden herself is a smaller creature, powerful in her own way but contained to the tasks of her station, varied as they might be.

Paderau comes up to greet her, a wry expression on her mouth. She could tell from across the garden that this lady was a few times her age and her experience, and with all these clueless teenagers around, that was a little comforting.

"How's it going?"