"Wait... did I say corn? I, uh, I meant cheese," Tal backpedaled sheepishly. "Cheese an' herb muffins. An' I was helpin' the great Commander Baron Chef Ronin himself," he added proudly, skinny chest sticking out as he subtly name dropped the Commander of Stormbreak, looking very pleased with himself.
He shrunk back down enough for his head to fit in the kitchen again as he began handing Delia the ingredients as she asked for them, serving as her gofer since she (wisely) wasn't giving up control of the mixing bowl. Her next words finished deflating his teasing boastfulness and his grin faded with a sober nod.
"Mm. Yeah. He blames himself, too. I get it, but..." He exhaled and then shook his head. There wasn't a 'but' big enough to make the heart feel other than what it did, even when the head knew it was in the wrong. "Did you... ever find out where she was when she went missing?" he asked cautiously instead, remembering a tavern and lanterns they'd made together; one had been for Aino.
The day a white dragon had flown over the Citadel.
He shrunk back down enough for his head to fit in the kitchen again as he began handing Delia the ingredients as she asked for them, serving as her gofer since she (wisely) wasn't giving up control of the mixing bowl. Her next words finished deflating his teasing boastfulness and his grin faded with a sober nod.
"Mm. Yeah. He blames himself, too. I get it, but..." He exhaled and then shook his head. There wasn't a 'but' big enough to make the heart feel other than what it did, even when the head knew it was in the wrong. "Did you... ever find out where she was when she went missing?" he asked cautiously instead, remembering a tavern and lanterns they'd made together; one had been for Aino.
The day a white dragon had flown over the Citadel.
