From her somber quiet and body language he had expected that what was bothering her was nothing good. Long Night had been rough on everyone - and everything, even the buildings of the Settlement suffering wear and tear from being left alone for a week as people huddled inside and prayed the monsters would pass them by. As she began to speak he listened, and what she didn't say spoke as loud as what she did.
She had mentioned her family and farming when they had first met. They were the reason she had stayed in the outskirts for most of her life, he thought. But hearing that she had to run the farm on her own now...
"Maea, I am so sorry," he said softly, empathy in his voice as someone else who had lost his family to a violent end. He assumed hers were more casualties of the brutal Long Night and bowed his head in respect for those who had passed on. Perhaps theirs would be some of the souls he and Amalia would be guiding back to Ludo on the new moon... though that might not be a comforting thought to the young woman, and he didn't say it aloud.
He didn't move to touch her, giving her space and a chance to regain her poise in her own time. He glanced to Sam, empathy in his eyes for the newest Loreseeker that he hoped his friend shared, and was surprised at how far the bookmaker had already dug down. He nodded his approval, but didn't speak yet, not wanting Maea to think they were making light of her loss. "Perhaps we can find some people to help out," he said instead, after a little time had passed. "There are a number of Outlanders who might have time. They might not have training but... they could help with some of the Flowerbirth work around the farm, maybe?" Planting the year's crops, helping with the spring calving of any animals... trained hands would be better, of course, but even a little bit might help. He could put the word out the next time he performed at the Rathskeller, he decided. Even some naturals might be able to pitch in to help a neighbor out after a hard Long Night.
She had mentioned her family and farming when they had first met. They were the reason she had stayed in the outskirts for most of her life, he thought. But hearing that she had to run the farm on her own now...
"Maea, I am so sorry," he said softly, empathy in his voice as someone else who had lost his family to a violent end. He assumed hers were more casualties of the brutal Long Night and bowed his head in respect for those who had passed on. Perhaps theirs would be some of the souls he and Amalia would be guiding back to Ludo on the new moon... though that might not be a comforting thought to the young woman, and he didn't say it aloud.
He didn't move to touch her, giving her space and a chance to regain her poise in her own time. He glanced to Sam, empathy in his eyes for the newest Loreseeker that he hoped his friend shared, and was surprised at how far the bookmaker had already dug down. He nodded his approval, but didn't speak yet, not wanting Maea to think they were making light of her loss. "Perhaps we can find some people to help out," he said instead, after a little time had passed. "There are a number of Outlanders who might have time. They might not have training but... they could help with some of the Flowerbirth work around the farm, maybe?" Planting the year's crops, helping with the spring calving of any animals... trained hands would be better, of course, but even a little bit might help. He could put the word out the next time he performed at the Rathskeller, he decided. Even some naturals might be able to pitch in to help a neighbor out after a hard Long Night.
