Tal’s lanterns were already floating with the ones on the water, but he flashed Hawthorn a small, grateful smile as the other man welcomed him and Zavien. There was a time when he would have been perfectly content to stay off to the side, brooding and alone, but this year… this year it was surprisingly nice to ease the old ache of loss with some friendly faces.
”Food sounds good,” Tal agreed, perking up a little as he spied one of the tables that as given over entirely to desserts. His own losses were years in the past now, thankfully, and there had been plenty of time for scabs and scars to take the raw sawblade edge off his grief. ”D’you think that Ludo will—“ But before he could finish his sentence the lights around them all grew dim and a hush fell over the clearing as all eyes were drawn to the single lantern that still burned bright. A woman Tal didn’t know stood beside it, but he recognized Kiada as the Ancient fell into the strange lady’s arms.
Tal bit his lip against the familiar stab of jealousy and turned away, drawing a slightly ragged breath. ”Um. So. Yeah. I guess that answers that. Thorn, can y’get me somethin’ sweet? I’m… gonna go find th’drinks. Can I bring anythin’ back for you guys?”
”Food sounds good,” Tal agreed, perking up a little as he spied one of the tables that as given over entirely to desserts. His own losses were years in the past now, thankfully, and there had been plenty of time for scabs and scars to take the raw sawblade edge off his grief. ”D’you think that Ludo will—“ But before he could finish his sentence the lights around them all grew dim and a hush fell over the clearing as all eyes were drawn to the single lantern that still burned bright. A woman Tal didn’t know stood beside it, but he recognized Kiada as the Ancient fell into the strange lady’s arms.
Tal bit his lip against the familiar stab of jealousy and turned away, drawing a slightly ragged breath. ”Um. So. Yeah. I guess that answers that. Thorn, can y’get me somethin’ sweet? I’m… gonna go find th’drinks. Can I bring anythin’ back for you guys?”
