Auni's unabashed affection was a blessing, and one that helped bring Isuma a little out of the fugue that had consumed them both. She peeped quietly, rounded ears lifting a bit as Jigano pulled back from the luxere. The bard himself sighed a little, reaching up to scratch at her head as he gave Kiada his full attention, tilting his head in agreement that things had been an... adjustment.
To say the least.
"Tea with a friend is always a pleasure," he reassured her, the words coming out with the ease of long practice. He was a little surprised to find that they were still true, that as tired and battered as he felt, he was relieved to see Kiada, and glad to spend some time with her. They had been given little enough chance to get to know each other, but Amalia clearly cared for her, and he owed her so much more than he could repay for coming with him into the Greatwood, given what had happened. "Come, this way, please." He led the way towards the Hall door, slipping a key from his sleeve and unlocking the door to let them in. After a moment's hesitation he closed it behind them as well, slipping the new bell into place so that if another tried to follow them it would ring and let them know company was coming.
"Yes... I had taken our freedom here for granted, and the chance to stretch our wings, too," he admitted with a sigh as he took a lantern from a niche beside the door and led them down the broad, shallow spiral of stone steps and into the darkened interior of the Hall itself. Once, light had been let in from window wells dug into the south side of the building, passing through the two side rooms there and reflecting into the main hall and the mirrored chandelier above the great table. Now those window wells had been covered over, hidden from casual sight from outside, and the windows shuttered on the inside with iron. "Now that we are being caged I am... mm. I am uncertain what I should do." He shook his head and moved through the hall, lighting lanterns in wall sconces to bring a little brightness back and poking up the fire in the great hearth at the far end of the hall. Several overstuffed chairs, shabby but comfortable and clean, were set in front of it, and he busied himself preparing the kettle and measuring leaves into the teapot.
"Please, sit with me. Perhaps trying to talk it out and shape it into words will help?" he offered gently as he settled into one of the chairs. Isuma slid down his chest and curled into his lap, watching Kiada and Auni with golden eyes and only the barest flicker of her usual cheerful curiosity and exuberance.
To say the least.
"Tea with a friend is always a pleasure," he reassured her, the words coming out with the ease of long practice. He was a little surprised to find that they were still true, that as tired and battered as he felt, he was relieved to see Kiada, and glad to spend some time with her. They had been given little enough chance to get to know each other, but Amalia clearly cared for her, and he owed her so much more than he could repay for coming with him into the Greatwood, given what had happened. "Come, this way, please." He led the way towards the Hall door, slipping a key from his sleeve and unlocking the door to let them in. After a moment's hesitation he closed it behind them as well, slipping the new bell into place so that if another tried to follow them it would ring and let them know company was coming.
"Yes... I had taken our freedom here for granted, and the chance to stretch our wings, too," he admitted with a sigh as he took a lantern from a niche beside the door and led them down the broad, shallow spiral of stone steps and into the darkened interior of the Hall itself. Once, light had been let in from window wells dug into the south side of the building, passing through the two side rooms there and reflecting into the main hall and the mirrored chandelier above the great table. Now those window wells had been covered over, hidden from casual sight from outside, and the windows shuttered on the inside with iron. "Now that we are being caged I am... mm. I am uncertain what I should do." He shook his head and moved through the hall, lighting lanterns in wall sconces to bring a little brightness back and poking up the fire in the great hearth at the far end of the hall. Several overstuffed chairs, shabby but comfortable and clean, were set in front of it, and he busied himself preparing the kettle and measuring leaves into the teapot.
"Please, sit with me. Perhaps trying to talk it out and shape it into words will help?" he offered gently as he settled into one of the chairs. Isuma slid down his chest and curled into his lap, watching Kiada and Auni with golden eyes and only the barest flicker of her usual cheerful curiosity and exuberance.
