Tal was pretty pleased that they'd managed to finish their quest for Rae. He could already feel the lightening of the dread that had hung over him since LongNight, secure in the knowledge that their Archon was heading straight for the shrine that the courier had helped him build. It wasn't gone - not completely, not knowing that the Family could still come and go at will through Meadowreach - but the iron bands that had been constricting his chest for the past three months were finally loosening enough to let him draw a full and proper breath.
He hadn't forgotten Alys's look, though. And he hadn't forgotten what Sunjata had said about Starfall, either. The combination dulled his sense of accomplishment somewhat as he turned both things over in his mind during the quiet trip back to the house.
Boreal had abandoned the deck to fly alongside the skyboat, grateful to stretch her wings after staying politely on the ground for the whole day while they entertained their guest aboard. She stayed near to Sascha, however, never straying too far from the little bear for very long before returning to her protective position over the ship.
Home was a welcome sight, and Tal stayed behind to secure the boat for the night while the rest of the family headed in. He joined them soon enough, gratefully pulling his boots off at the top of the stairs and setting them carefully in their place - tucking Alys's neatly in beside his - before padding on stocking feet across the floor to join his partner in the kitchen.
"Peppermint for keepin' us calm, or ginger for soothin' stressed stomachs?" he asked her ruefully, heading straight for the ursur - er, sorry Sascha - in the room. "Y'didn't seem too pleased with th'Archon for sharin' that tale o' Starfall with us."
He hadn't forgotten Alys's look, though. And he hadn't forgotten what Sunjata had said about Starfall, either. The combination dulled his sense of accomplishment somewhat as he turned both things over in his mind during the quiet trip back to the house.
Boreal had abandoned the deck to fly alongside the skyboat, grateful to stretch her wings after staying politely on the ground for the whole day while they entertained their guest aboard. She stayed near to Sascha, however, never straying too far from the little bear for very long before returning to her protective position over the ship.
Home was a welcome sight, and Tal stayed behind to secure the boat for the night while the rest of the family headed in. He joined them soon enough, gratefully pulling his boots off at the top of the stairs and setting them carefully in their place - tucking Alys's neatly in beside his - before padding on stocking feet across the floor to join his partner in the kitchen.
"Peppermint for keepin' us calm, or ginger for soothin' stressed stomachs?" he asked her ruefully, heading straight for the ursur - er, sorry Sascha - in the room. "Y'didn't seem too pleased with th'Archon for sharin' that tale o' Starfall with us."
