[Geir hesitates, then switches to "voice" telepathy, whispering quietly enough that the baby Palai on him can't hear him.]

I don't know how many of them have parents any more... there's been a lot of fighting recently.

[he wouldn't have thought to show them that courtesy a month ago, but he's slowly learning social norms! good job, dragon. out loud, he says:]

Good idea! We can take'em back to the nursery. You're ready to get to sleep, right, kids?

[there's a chorus of "no!" Geir ignores it sunnily, tapping into the deep instincts of babysitters throughout the generations.]

Uh-huh, of course you are! ♪