He stood quietly, hips resting against the back of one of the fireplace chairs as he listened to her words and tilted his head to show he was hearing her. He didn't come closer, not wanting to loom, but he was close enough for them to talk easily and still go to tend the fire and the kettle. He had to bite back the urge to tell her things she could have done differently; it wouldn't help and could only harm, and Amalia's lesson in his tendency to be overprotective and patronizing still echoed loudly. He drew a slow breath, considering how to explain himself instead, but she wasn't finished and he found himself holding it as the pale-haired woman continued on.
Ah. There was the heart of the misunderstanding. Not Sunjata's fault, and he was glad to hear it confirmed, but he feared the cracks that had been opened in that friendship over this. He'd seen the way Maea had reached for the Flood's hand, but any remaining uncertainty over their relationship was cleared away by the blush and the way her fingers drew attention to the hickies before she hid them.
Ah, young love...
But damn, it did complicate everything, didn't it?
The bard didn't respond right away, taking his time to think over what she had said before he nodded slowly. "Your reasons were good," he agreed at last when he found the words he wanted. "But I don't think you knew just how... personal the rift between Zariah and I is. There are others who can train you - and I would heartily encourage you to learn from all of them. Even, yes, from Zariah... if there is a way to do so without joining her academy." He found a smile for her, wry and a little sad as he gave a slight shake of his head. "But I would never accuse you of 'playing at' being a mage, Maea. You are one. You were born one, and you've had the magic of Caido in your veins far longer than that pompous upstart has."
He exhaled slowly, his smile remaining as he arched an eyebrow at her. "Then again, training with Deimos and Loren will likely give you much of the same foundations Zariah would, but with a lot fewer conflicts between yourself and those that Zariah hurt while you were away."
Ah. There was the heart of the misunderstanding. Not Sunjata's fault, and he was glad to hear it confirmed, but he feared the cracks that had been opened in that friendship over this. He'd seen the way Maea had reached for the Flood's hand, but any remaining uncertainty over their relationship was cleared away by the blush and the way her fingers drew attention to the hickies before she hid them.
Ah, young love...
But damn, it did complicate everything, didn't it?
The bard didn't respond right away, taking his time to think over what she had said before he nodded slowly. "Your reasons were good," he agreed at last when he found the words he wanted. "But I don't think you knew just how... personal the rift between Zariah and I is. There are others who can train you - and I would heartily encourage you to learn from all of them. Even, yes, from Zariah... if there is a way to do so without joining her academy." He found a smile for her, wry and a little sad as he gave a slight shake of his head. "But I would never accuse you of 'playing at' being a mage, Maea. You are one. You were born one, and you've had the magic of Caido in your veins far longer than that pompous upstart has."
He exhaled slowly, his smile remaining as he arched an eyebrow at her. "Then again, training with Deimos and Loren will likely give you much of the same foundations Zariah would, but with a lot fewer conflicts between yourself and those that Zariah hurt while you were away."
