The fact that Amalia was glad to see her lifted Arialla's spirits somewhat, though a voice in the back of her mind said that the Archangel wouldn't feel so if she knew what Arialla wanted from her. But she appreciated Amalia's politeness anyway. "I haven't been here long -- just since the start of the season. I've eaten, but some tea would be nice."
Arialla couldn't help glancing at the worshipers who had come to see Amalia, to bask in the demigod's reflected radiance. It wasn't that she judged them or anything -- she was there for the same reason. Rather, she wondered how they perceived her: a stranger pulling the Archangel away from them. Arialla imagined dislike in their expressions and could not say whether it really existed. She often felt that people looked askance at her these days. Perhaps she'd grown paranoid.
please don't take my sunshine away
