Kiada’s support – everyone’s support – for Amalia warmed the bard, but he slanted a concerned glance at the Harpy as her words began to slur. He hadn’t expected the alcohol to hit her so fast, or with so little needed, but his surprise took on a different turn entirely when she mentioned the unicorn. And the landshark. The word alone sent a shiver down his spine, but the effect on Amalia was far more important. For the first time she seemed to shake out of her fugue and reach out, fussing over Deimos more like he had hoped she would when the mountain had arrived at the bakery’s door. He could almost smile, even, as her questions poured out like a fresh round of shots.
He caught Deimos’s look, but could only offer the slightest shake of his head. The big man might not like being the center of attention, but if it broke through Amalia’s sadness he wasn’t going to distract her. Besides, his girlfriend was allowed to worry and fuss over him when he did something crazy and dangerous, and fighting a landshark certainly qualified for both! ”A unicorn…” he murmured, still finding it hard to believe after everything else that had happened that day. It felt surreal, like something from a dream, but Deimos filled in the gaps that Kiada’s tipsy tale had inconveniently left out.
He nodded at his friend, and then gave Amalia a soft nudge through the Attuned link, sending warmth and love back to her, as she had once done for him. His words, however, were spoken aloud so all could hear. ”And we would feel the same if we lost you,” he pointed out gently. ”We cannot live without risk, but…” he glanced to Deimos, a weary smile plucking bravely at his lips. ”A unicorn for a friend is certainly one way to make things a little safer.” For brave, enduring Deimos, a man who made himself both sword and shield, the bard could think of no finer companion, and he bowed his head in agreement to the invitation. He rose, the alcohol barely making a dent in the tolerance of a man who had made his living in taverns for more than half a decade, and offered Kiada a gallant arm, even as Isuma crawled up to Amalia’s shoulder, peeping at her big sister encouragingly.
”Lead the way whenever you’re ready.”
He caught Deimos’s look, but could only offer the slightest shake of his head. The big man might not like being the center of attention, but if it broke through Amalia’s sadness he wasn’t going to distract her. Besides, his girlfriend was allowed to worry and fuss over him when he did something crazy and dangerous, and fighting a landshark certainly qualified for both! ”A unicorn…” he murmured, still finding it hard to believe after everything else that had happened that day. It felt surreal, like something from a dream, but Deimos filled in the gaps that Kiada’s tipsy tale had inconveniently left out.
He nodded at his friend, and then gave Amalia a soft nudge through the Attuned link, sending warmth and love back to her, as she had once done for him. His words, however, were spoken aloud so all could hear. ”And we would feel the same if we lost you,” he pointed out gently. ”We cannot live without risk, but…” he glanced to Deimos, a weary smile plucking bravely at his lips. ”A unicorn for a friend is certainly one way to make things a little safer.” For brave, enduring Deimos, a man who made himself both sword and shield, the bard could think of no finer companion, and he bowed his head in agreement to the invitation. He rose, the alcohol barely making a dent in the tolerance of a man who had made his living in taverns for more than half a decade, and offered Kiada a gallant arm, even as Isuma crawled up to Amalia’s shoulder, peeping at her big sister encouragingly.
”Lead the way whenever you’re ready.”
