The Eye had, indeed, been the original plan for official business. This was an unplanned personal visit, however, and as such Sohalia could not be held accountable for any difficulties faced by her unexpected guest. Hadama had faced and overcome the stairs at Stormbreak's great observatory on one of his first forays on two legs, and though he'd had little opportunity to practice the skill since he was at least steadier and more confident in his steps now. His pace was measured but confident as he climbed behind her.
There were several teas which Hadama had not heard of; local to Stormbreak, he surmised, and he chose one of them as Sohalia went about the comfortable domestic bustle of welcome, and dried himself by the fire until it seemed safe to ease himself into one of the chairs. He was a larger man than the chair had been intended for, but it was still comfortable and the tea and biscuits were a welcome snack as they settled in to chat.
He listened - and he listened, watching her too-bright smile and her too-quick sip of hot tea. "May I?" he rumbled softly, touching a fingertip to his cup as his eyes sparked briefly sapphire and the steam coming from it abruptly lessened. He gestured to her cup as well with a questioning tilt to his head, waiting for her permission before he altered the temperature of the water within it to something less painful.
"I am sorry I could not be there." He would have liked to have offered her his support and Torchline's approval with his presence, but the timing of things never seemed to be quite in his favor with the moon's phases. "It is good that there was no trouble. You worked hard for that day." And there was pride in the smile that lifted the corners of his mouth even as he inclined his head to her in a nod of respect for her labors. "On behalf of Torchline's Abandoned, thank you."
He took a sip of his own tea, savoring the new flavor and trying to place the notes in it before he swallowed and looked at his young friend again, emerald eyes calm but seeking. After a long moment of silence he stretched his hand across the table and rested it on the dark wood, palm up, without a word.
There were several teas which Hadama had not heard of; local to Stormbreak, he surmised, and he chose one of them as Sohalia went about the comfortable domestic bustle of welcome, and dried himself by the fire until it seemed safe to ease himself into one of the chairs. He was a larger man than the chair had been intended for, but it was still comfortable and the tea and biscuits were a welcome snack as they settled in to chat.
He listened - and he listened, watching her too-bright smile and her too-quick sip of hot tea. "May I?" he rumbled softly, touching a fingertip to his cup as his eyes sparked briefly sapphire and the steam coming from it abruptly lessened. He gestured to her cup as well with a questioning tilt to his head, waiting for her permission before he altered the temperature of the water within it to something less painful.
"I am sorry I could not be there." He would have liked to have offered her his support and Torchline's approval with his presence, but the timing of things never seemed to be quite in his favor with the moon's phases. "It is good that there was no trouble. You worked hard for that day." And there was pride in the smile that lifted the corners of his mouth even as he inclined his head to her in a nod of respect for her labors. "On behalf of Torchline's Abandoned, thank you."
He took a sip of his own tea, savoring the new flavor and trying to place the notes in it before he swallowed and looked at his young friend again, emerald eyes calm but seeking. After a long moment of silence he stretched his hand across the table and rested it on the dark wood, palm up, without a word.
