Of course he was proud of her. She had come far, done much, grown stronger, yes, but she had also kept the brave heart and kindness that had drawn him to her those years ago. She had changed since they had first met, it was true, but only for the better in his calmly biased opinion. Their crowns too often weighed them down with responsibilities that made it difficult to see each other as often as they would like, but twists of metal and gems did not define them.
There was laughter and there were tears, but they were tears of joy shared and doubled and doubled again, and Hadama was disinclined to step back from their embrace before Evie was ready to do so. For a man who did not often invite physical displays of affection he took great comfort in those that were offered to him by his dearest friend.
"I will visit more often now," he promised, his voice turned to warm thunder with his laughter shining bright within its depths. "How soon until they hatch?" Although he had learned a great deal about human biology since gaining the occasional pair of legs, certain aspects remained a mystery to the man who had been Mer until very recently.
He pulled back just far enough that they could see each other as they spoke, keeping one arm as a companionable support around her waist as well as he smiled down at her flushed and freckled face. And if his own eyes were misty, he made no attempt to wipe them clear. "Indeed," he confirmed, and there was as much contentment in his voice as there was reverence in the bow of his head. "Have you met her?" As Deimos's wife it seemed likely, but neither was Hadama concerned if Evie prayed to another god. All were necessary for the balance on Caido, even if Safrin was the only goddess for him.
There was laughter and there were tears, but they were tears of joy shared and doubled and doubled again, and Hadama was disinclined to step back from their embrace before Evie was ready to do so. For a man who did not often invite physical displays of affection he took great comfort in those that were offered to him by his dearest friend.
"I will visit more often now," he promised, his voice turned to warm thunder with his laughter shining bright within its depths. "How soon until they hatch?" Although he had learned a great deal about human biology since gaining the occasional pair of legs, certain aspects remained a mystery to the man who had been Mer until very recently.
He pulled back just far enough that they could see each other as they spoke, keeping one arm as a companionable support around her waist as well as he smiled down at her flushed and freckled face. And if his own eyes were misty, he made no attempt to wipe them clear. "Indeed," he confirmed, and there was as much contentment in his voice as there was reverence in the bow of his head. "Have you met her?" As Deimos's wife it seemed likely, but neither was Hadama concerned if Evie prayed to another god. All were necessary for the balance on Caido, even if Safrin was the only goddess for him.
