"Mmh. As the young folk might say: a date." He spoke the words with utter solemnity, his expression serious and as grave as if they were discussing plans for war. And yet there was that twinkle in his eyes that those who knew him well - and Thalassa was counted among that number - would recognize for what it was.
Mischief, and a humor as dry as Hak Etme.
But he would not waste this chance for them to speak in private. Not when he had already let too much silence grow between them. Her shrug indicated indifference and her words were ambivalent, but he nodded slowly in response before turning his gaze back to the fire. "Yes. We have learned more about Starfall. What lies on it, and within it. We are collecting roses and lilies for cleansing it." He paused, a faint frown marring his smooth brow with a wrinkle of unhappiness. "Their... Voice... can eavesdrop on conversations. Even in the Attuned bond. Invisible and undetectable. We must be careful of speaking our plans aloud to anyone. So when we plan a foray we must be discrete, to avoid a... hmm. A welcoming committee."
He sighed softly, a faint puff of breath lost in the crackle of flame. "It was fear that kept me from sharing my plans with you and Maea before. I am strong, Thalassa, but compared to Deimos and Sunjata I am... mh. The weakest link in our team. And the one most likely to fall beneath a sustained attack." Not an easy thing for a demigod to admit, much less a king. It was a painful truth that he offered her in apology for his wounding secrets, and though he stood as tall and poised as ever his gaze did not waver from the flames as he spoke, unwilling to meet the eyes of another when he had made himself so vulnerable.
Mischief, and a humor as dry as Hak Etme.
But he would not waste this chance for them to speak in private. Not when he had already let too much silence grow between them. Her shrug indicated indifference and her words were ambivalent, but he nodded slowly in response before turning his gaze back to the fire. "Yes. We have learned more about Starfall. What lies on it, and within it. We are collecting roses and lilies for cleansing it." He paused, a faint frown marring his smooth brow with a wrinkle of unhappiness. "Their... Voice... can eavesdrop on conversations. Even in the Attuned bond. Invisible and undetectable. We must be careful of speaking our plans aloud to anyone. So when we plan a foray we must be discrete, to avoid a... hmm. A welcoming committee."
He sighed softly, a faint puff of breath lost in the crackle of flame. "It was fear that kept me from sharing my plans with you and Maea before. I am strong, Thalassa, but compared to Deimos and Sunjata I am... mh. The weakest link in our team. And the one most likely to fall beneath a sustained attack." Not an easy thing for a demigod to admit, much less a king. It was a painful truth that he offered her in apology for his wounding secrets, and though he stood as tall and poised as ever his gaze did not waver from the flames as he spoke, unwilling to meet the eyes of another when he had made himself so vulnerable.
