Something in Lena felt immediately disheartened – maybe that Sohalia had felt pressured again, had thought that mantle far too heavy, far too much of a burden, had snagged when it was peaceful, changed things for the better, and then had her heartbreaking losses. Abduction. Her trials and tribulations with the Family. The loss of her companion recently. Maybe it’d been too much to bear in the end for someone so young, and her eyes went downcast, thinking, frowning, at the state that maybe none of them had noticed. “I’m sorry to hear that – I hope she didn’t feel we weren’t doing enough for her, or too encumbered by it all…,” but it’d been difficult to tell. She’d led portions of the charge back into Stormbreak.
Perhaps, in the midst of it all, she’d felt everything begin to outweigh one another.
But it was Zavien’s response she wanted to hear most. To know he wasn’t taking something on that was going to pressure, consume, and wear him down. That it was a charge he wanted, rather than felt responsible for, because Safrin suggested it. Her eyes watched, studied his face, listened to the speech, trying to push all her misgivings aside for his benefit. Gods, they’d had so many changes lately. Fretting along the ties of her robe, she smiled in response, inclining her head. “If you want to do it, then I say go for it.” He had the drive and motivation, the spirit, the tenacity. “I don’t think it makes you crazy – look at all the other regions and their leaders.” Her hands went lightly towards his face, to capture him in between her warm palms. “As long as you’re ready for likely a very steep learning curve,” and she grinned, giving him a wink, feeling her heart settle at the fact that he appeared to be less adrift the more he talked. “Do you have a council in mind?” That way he had others to keep him steady.
Perhaps, in the midst of it all, she’d felt everything begin to outweigh one another.
But it was Zavien’s response she wanted to hear most. To know he wasn’t taking something on that was going to pressure, consume, and wear him down. That it was a charge he wanted, rather than felt responsible for, because Safrin suggested it. Her eyes watched, studied his face, listened to the speech, trying to push all her misgivings aside for his benefit. Gods, they’d had so many changes lately. Fretting along the ties of her robe, she smiled in response, inclining her head. “If you want to do it, then I say go for it.” He had the drive and motivation, the spirit, the tenacity. “I don’t think it makes you crazy – look at all the other regions and their leaders.” Her hands went lightly towards his face, to capture him in between her warm palms. “As long as you’re ready for likely a very steep learning curve,” and she grinned, giving him a wink, feeling her heart settle at the fact that he appeared to be less adrift the more he talked. “Do you have a council in mind?” That way he had others to keep him steady.
Lena
