It was not as common now as it had once been with the local humans, but visitors to Torchline were still often curious about the Mer and it seemed Soleil was no different. Hadama waited patiently while she examined his hand, unhurried at her comparison and content to let her take her time.
Her question was a little surprising, but only because Hadama had rarely had reason to think about it in such terms. He was quiet for long moments, considering his answer before opening his mouth. "They are common here, yes," he confirmed thoughtfully. "I do not know how common they are elsewhere, though." Or how uncommon. Though he had traveled more widely than most of his people he had still only met a few inhabitants of each of the regions to the north and east of the Arclight. Admittedly, most of them had been quite pale. Whether they were representative of their people he did not know.
She could have taken the bag of barter goods and run, and Hadama could have done little about it. He found himself inclined to trust her, however, and to be content to wait patiently for her successful return.
Which came faster than he'd hoped, and with satisfying success. He accepted the large candle - as long as Soleil's arm, and a little thicker - and shrugged the map case from his back to carefully package the waxen cylinder in its shades of blue that went from light to dark. Once it was safely put away he turned his attention back to his young benefactor and his emerald eyes glinted with quiet humor. "Among the Mer, we eat it raw," he informed her solemnly. "If you are hungry, we can break the shell. If you are patient, you may have both shell and meat."
Her question was a little surprising, but only because Hadama had rarely had reason to think about it in such terms. He was quiet for long moments, considering his answer before opening his mouth. "They are common here, yes," he confirmed thoughtfully. "I do not know how common they are elsewhere, though." Or how uncommon. Though he had traveled more widely than most of his people he had still only met a few inhabitants of each of the regions to the north and east of the Arclight. Admittedly, most of them had been quite pale. Whether they were representative of their people he did not know.
She could have taken the bag of barter goods and run, and Hadama could have done little about it. He found himself inclined to trust her, however, and to be content to wait patiently for her successful return.
Which came faster than he'd hoped, and with satisfying success. He accepted the large candle - as long as Soleil's arm, and a little thicker - and shrugged the map case from his back to carefully package the waxen cylinder in its shades of blue that went from light to dark. Once it was safely put away he turned his attention back to his young benefactor and his emerald eyes glinted with quiet humor. "Among the Mer, we eat it raw," he informed her solemnly. "If you are hungry, we can break the shell. If you are patient, you may have both shell and meat."
