The most recent Fiat Lux had almost washed the memories from the previous one away, and it took him a moment to remember the sight of his young friend dancing with the masked god. He smiled slightly, nodding as the puzzle piece slid into place, filling a small hole in the past he had lost hope would ever be complete, but his thoughts mirrored hers. Apparently Frey had intervened with the mud monster, while the Voice and Safrin had both stepped in during the mess with Ronin and the Temple. Only Ludo had been missing, but given all the souls that had been released to Mort's realm it was likely busy with its own responsibilities.
He explained the lantern's purpose, and nodded affirmation at Maea's guess at his song, pleased that she made the connection so quickly. For a moment he considered telling her where the song had come from... but after her revelations on her complicated history with Amalia he thought better of it. In that moment's hesitation, though, Maea pushed on, hinting at secrets that had been buried for many seasons. He regarded her solemnly, smile fading to seriousness as he turned her warning over in his mind. There was a great deal of pain and guilt in his life already; his schism with Sam, his failure to protect Amalia - twice, now. The renewed tension between himself and Deimos after they had begun to mend their fences. Being shoved to the front of a war he knew he couldn't win.
The disappearance and deaths of friends. The way Rory had retreated from the world. The threats from the Voice and the hatred of Safrin.
"Please," he said gently, offering Maea a reassuring smile. "If it would ease your heart to share it, I will listen. What is it?"
In the end he was a Loreseeker. His curiosity would kill him someday, if his pride didn't manage it first. But that meant learning the bad as well as the good, no matter how painful it was to hear.
He explained the lantern's purpose, and nodded affirmation at Maea's guess at his song, pleased that she made the connection so quickly. For a moment he considered telling her where the song had come from... but after her revelations on her complicated history with Amalia he thought better of it. In that moment's hesitation, though, Maea pushed on, hinting at secrets that had been buried for many seasons. He regarded her solemnly, smile fading to seriousness as he turned her warning over in his mind. There was a great deal of pain and guilt in his life already; his schism with Sam, his failure to protect Amalia - twice, now. The renewed tension between himself and Deimos after they had begun to mend their fences. Being shoved to the front of a war he knew he couldn't win.
The disappearance and deaths of friends. The way Rory had retreated from the world. The threats from the Voice and the hatred of Safrin.
"Please," he said gently, offering Maea a reassuring smile. "If it would ease your heart to share it, I will listen. What is it?"
In the end he was a Loreseeker. His curiosity would kill him someday, if his pride didn't manage it first. But that meant learning the bad as well as the good, no matter how painful it was to hear.
