The staring contest of sorts went on for a few more seconds before Devon eventually averted his eyes and gestured to Hal that it was time for him to leave.
When Hal stood up, Melinda made to follow but Devon called to her,
"No, Melinda wait a moment more" he said and Melinda sat back down with a deeply disgruntled look.
Hal left the tent just as his communication talisman alerted him.
Hal went off to somewhere relatively private and away from the raucous of celebrations to take the call.
Out of the talisman boomed the familiar voice of Ehrlich,
"You're alive" said the Princess' stooge with a tone of disappointment.
Hal grinned,
"Well, I'm wasting my time talking to you so I must be" Hal said.
"Wasting your time? How dare you? I am contacting by order of the process and you go about saying nonsense like that." Ehrlich said and Hal rolled his eyes,