"That sounds like us," Jigano agreed, his own smile sad, but his ghosts were hidden for the moment. It wasn't a contest to prove who had the biggest tragedies, and he had come to support his friend, not to air his own laundry list of losses.
He had thought that Loren and Amalia were friends, or at least friendly. He didn't quite wince at the indication that he hadn't seen her recently. He did wince at the words that passed through the bond, but there was a little hope, too, that Loren could think the words with only grief and not anger attached to them. Last he had seen of Amalia she had her own burdens that she was bearing - and breaking under. She was in no shape to support Loren... anymore than the summoner was in much shape to support her.
Jigano rose as well, though more slowly. "And I should get back to Isuma and make sure she hasn't gotten covered in dog hair again," he agreed ruefully. She enjoyed teasing Rory's hounds a little too much, as it turned out, but they'd grown to accept her and could share a slobbery kiss or two, much to her delight - and the bard's dismay when he had to clean the slobber off her feathers. "Thank you for coming. Hopefully we'll see each other again soon."
He waited a few minutes to let his friend get a good head start before he started down behind him, giving them both a chance to have quiet walks and think about what had been said that day.
{Finished}
He had thought that Loren and Amalia were friends, or at least friendly. He didn't quite wince at the indication that he hadn't seen her recently. He did wince at the words that passed through the bond, but there was a little hope, too, that Loren could think the words with only grief and not anger attached to them. Last he had seen of Amalia she had her own burdens that she was bearing - and breaking under. She was in no shape to support Loren... anymore than the summoner was in much shape to support her.
Jigano rose as well, though more slowly. "And I should get back to Isuma and make sure she hasn't gotten covered in dog hair again," he agreed ruefully. She enjoyed teasing Rory's hounds a little too much, as it turned out, but they'd grown to accept her and could share a slobbery kiss or two, much to her delight - and the bard's dismay when he had to clean the slobber off her feathers. "Thank you for coming. Hopefully we'll see each other again soon."
He waited a few minutes to let his friend get a good head start before he started down behind him, giving them both a chance to have quiet walks and think about what had been said that day.
{Finished}
