Who among them was ready for death? They might know they were heading into danger, might gird themselves for the possibility, but the knowledge that death was inevitable and imminent? That was a rare and terrible thing, one that you could never really practice for. He didn’t say anything, simply listened, attentive and sympathetic with the strain the young woman found herself under, as they spoke quietly and the scent of the tea begin to waft from the pot.
His eyes widened a fraction at her tale of multiple worlds and multiple lives, but he was not as surprised as he might have been. This was the third time he had heard of such a thing, the second time the name ‘Helovia’ had arisen, and he nodded slowly to show his understanding of the larger sweep of her story, even as many of the details were new and unique to her. The name Rexanna drew a tilt of his chin, a curious arch of a brow as some of the giggling during the Fiat Lux baking made a little more sense in that context.
He was intrigued to learn more of Deimos as well, the big man usually one of few words and reluctant to talk about himself. So the big man was a former king… that was interesting, and he remembered the way Rory had looked to the mountain during their failed meeting to draw a rebellion together. But Deimos had died on that former world? Perhaps that was why he was reluctant to take up a new mantle here.
Gods of chaos, promising power and glory, earned a faint wince from the bard, and he stroked Isuma to give his hands something to do, feeling the fragility of his own control, the urge to tap his fingers and reveal his anxiety over that chapter of her history.
”I am terribly sorry to hear that, Kiada,” he said softly instead, at learning that Long Night had claimed another loved one, though he hadn’t known it at the time. ”We will do all that we can to try and keep everyone safe next winter.” He moved Isuma again as his nose twitched at a slight shift in the aroma of the steeping tea, and he slid from his chair to pour the brew into two mugs, offering the steaming beverage to Kiada and taking one for himself. Small tables beside the chairs provided space to place books or tea – preferably not both at the same time – and he set his there to cool a bit while he scooped the leaves out of the pot and left the pot near enough the hearth to keep it warm.
”I only know one Rexanna,” he said as he returned to his seat, tilting his head with a faint smile for his young friend. ” But she is a strong and capable woman, though not much older than you, I’d guess. It must be disconcerting, seeing these people from your past, who don’t share your memories…?” He guessed cautiously.
His eyes widened a fraction at her tale of multiple worlds and multiple lives, but he was not as surprised as he might have been. This was the third time he had heard of such a thing, the second time the name ‘Helovia’ had arisen, and he nodded slowly to show his understanding of the larger sweep of her story, even as many of the details were new and unique to her. The name Rexanna drew a tilt of his chin, a curious arch of a brow as some of the giggling during the Fiat Lux baking made a little more sense in that context.
He was intrigued to learn more of Deimos as well, the big man usually one of few words and reluctant to talk about himself. So the big man was a former king… that was interesting, and he remembered the way Rory had looked to the mountain during their failed meeting to draw a rebellion together. But Deimos had died on that former world? Perhaps that was why he was reluctant to take up a new mantle here.
Gods of chaos, promising power and glory, earned a faint wince from the bard, and he stroked Isuma to give his hands something to do, feeling the fragility of his own control, the urge to tap his fingers and reveal his anxiety over that chapter of her history.
”I am terribly sorry to hear that, Kiada,” he said softly instead, at learning that Long Night had claimed another loved one, though he hadn’t known it at the time. ”We will do all that we can to try and keep everyone safe next winter.” He moved Isuma again as his nose twitched at a slight shift in the aroma of the steeping tea, and he slid from his chair to pour the brew into two mugs, offering the steaming beverage to Kiada and taking one for himself. Small tables beside the chairs provided space to place books or tea – preferably not both at the same time – and he set his there to cool a bit while he scooped the leaves out of the pot and left the pot near enough the hearth to keep it warm.
”I only know one Rexanna,” he said as he returned to his seat, tilting his head with a faint smile for his young friend. ” But she is a strong and capable woman, though not much older than you, I’d guess. It must be disconcerting, seeing these people from your past, who don’t share your memories…?” He guessed cautiously.
