They had only asked for volunteers to help with the tasks; willing hands were welcome, but there was nothing to be gained from trying to bully, bribe, or intimidate anyone into participating - at least, not by Torchline's King. Her Queen was the more socially adept of the two, and no one could deny the effectiveness of her methods.
But it was Jude who he was focused on now. The young man held echoes of both of his parents in his eyes, his nose, the wave of his hair, and the reminders of old friends were carefully tucked away to contemplate later. Jude was not them anymore than Edmund was.
"He is lucky to have you," the Tidebreaker rumbled quietly. He might have reached out, but Jude looked uncomfortable enough in his own skin that the Tidebreaker remained still and contained. At least until the topic of Safrin arose, and his eyes grew light with the quiet pleasure and adoration the goddess cultivated in him. "Mmh. And Safrin is lucky to have you, too. I would be honored to help, if you would like company." The offer was made with a simple straightforwardness as he inclined his head deeply to his fellow follower of the celestial lady, though his tone held the calm acceptance of whichever answer Jude chose: yes or no. "May I ask... why you chose her over Frey?" With his mother being that god's demigoddess it might have been the obvious choice.
But whether that played a role in Jude's decision Hadama could not say, and would not guess without the young man's own words to guide his understanding.
But it was Jude who he was focused on now. The young man held echoes of both of his parents in his eyes, his nose, the wave of his hair, and the reminders of old friends were carefully tucked away to contemplate later. Jude was not them anymore than Edmund was.
"He is lucky to have you," the Tidebreaker rumbled quietly. He might have reached out, but Jude looked uncomfortable enough in his own skin that the Tidebreaker remained still and contained. At least until the topic of Safrin arose, and his eyes grew light with the quiet pleasure and adoration the goddess cultivated in him. "Mmh. And Safrin is lucky to have you, too. I would be honored to help, if you would like company." The offer was made with a simple straightforwardness as he inclined his head deeply to his fellow follower of the celestial lady, though his tone held the calm acceptance of whichever answer Jude chose: yes or no. "May I ask... why you chose her over Frey?" With his mother being that god's demigoddess it might have been the obvious choice.
But whether that played a role in Jude's decision Hadama could not say, and would not guess without the young man's own words to guide his understanding.
