Smiling not at the wince but in spite of it, Regina took the brush to Arya's hair, but she did it gently, carefully holding it just above the tangles so the strokes didn't pull. Her own had used to turn into a rat's nest after riding, which was why and when she'd learned to braid.

"I loved a dragon once. A shapeshifter who could become dragon," Regina replied quietly, picking up the thread of Arya's thoughts. "And Neil worked for a dragon king in his world. We're both magic users, he and I. Would you like to see?"

She wouldn't probably have brought it up, but subtle Neil wasn't. If she didn't, he would, and she would rather Arya learn of their magic from her than by dragon mage babble.