Those left behind would undoubtedly have their own thoughts on how things proceeded, but even if Hadama had been in the habit of giving explanations for his actions there had been neither time nor opportunity given the company. He focused instead on what could be done in the present - though when Evie fled past without even a glance his heart went cold.
In that moment he might have gone after his friend, one of the few he would find the words for, but Maea suddenly pulled away and his attention refocused on her.
Her shaking hands.
Her shaking voice.
The trajectory of her steps.
"What will you accomplish by going back?" he rumbled, his serene expression unchanging since he had arrived and not shifting now as he moved to place himself between her and the stairs once more, shamelessly utilizing his longer legs to do so without hurrying. "I will not stop you if you seek your own destruction. But neither you nor I have the power to stop her if she turns violent." Whatever else Dahlia was, the former mermanta recognized a predator when he saw one. One that would not hesitate to exploit a weakness once she had sensed it. Whether that would be to dismiss Maea as a servant and ignore her, or to needle her with a sharp-toothed smile and fanged words he could not yet guess. But it was hard to imagine the proud Ancient taking either approach well. "Will you be able to swallow your pride again if she pushes you further?"
In that moment he might have gone after his friend, one of the few he would find the words for, but Maea suddenly pulled away and his attention refocused on her.
Her shaking hands.
Her shaking voice.
The trajectory of her steps.
"What will you accomplish by going back?" he rumbled, his serene expression unchanging since he had arrived and not shifting now as he moved to place himself between her and the stairs once more, shamelessly utilizing his longer legs to do so without hurrying. "I will not stop you if you seek your own destruction. But neither you nor I have the power to stop her if she turns violent." Whatever else Dahlia was, the former mermanta recognized a predator when he saw one. One that would not hesitate to exploit a weakness once she had sensed it. Whether that would be to dismiss Maea as a servant and ignore her, or to needle her with a sharp-toothed smile and fanged words he could not yet guess. But it was hard to imagine the proud Ancient taking either approach well. "Will you be able to swallow your pride again if she pushes you further?"
