He bowed his head in sympathy as she warned him there was worse to come, and didn't press her for more as the walked, waiting until she was ready to continue at her own pace. Getting in out of the cold again was certainly welcome, even if he was much drier now, and for a moment they bustled in companionable silence. Rexanna dealt with the fire while Jigano set out the bottles and deposited his bundles and cloak in a neat pile to the side, where they would stay clean and hopefully soak up some warmth. When Rexanna spoke he turned his attention to her, listening with curiosity and concern.
Her sad smile struck a chord, and he picked up the bottle of apple juice he had brought to lighten the harder liquor. Offering it to her, he gave her space, not wanting to crowd the woman as she dipped into memories that were, if not outright painful, at least full of shadows.
A brow rose at the mention of 'the truth,' a twist she had danced around as deftly as any trained bard so far. It was joined by the other at the revelation of the queen's infidelity, and Rexanna's status as accepted to neither parent, but hidden away among the servants. "Did you... do you have any siblings?" he asked cautiously, meaning those fathered by the king. "But even a half-royal is still royalty... or did your husband not consider it that way?" he finished with a wince and an unpleasantly queasy feeling in his stomach.
Her sad smile struck a chord, and he picked up the bottle of apple juice he had brought to lighten the harder liquor. Offering it to her, he gave her space, not wanting to crowd the woman as she dipped into memories that were, if not outright painful, at least full of shadows.
A brow rose at the mention of 'the truth,' a twist she had danced around as deftly as any trained bard so far. It was joined by the other at the revelation of the queen's infidelity, and Rexanna's status as accepted to neither parent, but hidden away among the servants. "Did you... do you have any siblings?" he asked cautiously, meaning those fathered by the king. "But even a half-royal is still royalty... or did your husband not consider it that way?" he finished with a wince and an unpleasantly queasy feeling in his stomach.
