Her choosing him was somewhat surprising to Lance, giving him a sense of being recognized.
Amanda believed she understood Tamara very well. She knew Tamara was still struggling with past events and desperately wanted to prove herself. This return, with the Elders' support, was the opportunity Tamara had long craved. But why would she give up this chance now? What was she thinking? This made Amanda waver as well. She knew that with her teacher's personality, if she failed her mission, she likely wouldn't be trusted or given important roles even if she returned. She might even face suspicion of leaking information and be ostracized. Perhaps staying was a good choice for her too. The path back was unclear, but that man's—Lance's—attitude was very clear.
Tamara made her stance clear, while Amanda remained silent and observant. Their attitudes delivered a severe blow to the old crone.
