[ He watches her carefully as the dog approaches her, a barely perceptible change in his own stance toward protective.
There's a pause when she asks that question. His instinct is to continue to lie. That's what he's been doing since he arrived, and long before that. In this case it would be toward self-preservation. He's seen all kinds of strange magic in his time in Abraxas, but she is different. She is exactly the power that the priests spoke of when they meant to justify their actions. This woman is powerful, and dangerous beneath the calm, human exterior, for once he's seen it himself. How many times had he seen the Payshmura burn other woman with less evidence?
(his own mother)
Under her gentle touch the tip of the dogs tail begins to wag, slowly. It licks the inside of her wrist.
There's no hiding his hesitation in answering now, but after a moment he speaks up, carefully: ]
We crossed paths briefly in Nocwich. You seemed a little lost.
[ An understatement. But the stark contrast in her demeanor between then and now has him curious.
no subject
There's a pause when she asks that question. His instinct is to continue to lie. That's what he's been doing since he arrived, and long before that. In this case it would be toward self-preservation. He's seen all kinds of strange magic in his time in Abraxas, but she is different. She is exactly the power that the priests spoke of when they meant to justify their actions. This woman is powerful, and dangerous beneath the calm, human exterior, for once he's seen it himself. How many times had he seen the Payshmura burn other woman with less evidence?
(his own mother)
Under her gentle touch the tip of the dogs tail begins to wag, slowly. It licks the inside of her wrist.
There's no hiding his hesitation in answering now, but after a moment he speaks up, carefully: ]
We crossed paths briefly in Nocwich. You seemed a little lost.
[ An understatement. But the stark contrast in her demeanor between then and now has him curious.
The Payshmura are long gone. ]