Closed [Travelers Row] Crying Love (Noah)

[Elann]

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Timestamp 36th evening of Winter, 515AV

"Tomorrow"

Those were the last words he spoke to her. Echoing in her mind, in her hear, she was filled with positive stress, not hardly able to wait for work to finish. Her hands wove a complicated weave of twists and knots into the pattern of a rug she was currently making. The design: a large loop rug, meant for outdoors that one could wipe the snow from their feet and yet not worry about it destroying the rug. She knew once she was finished with it, it being her last project of the day, she could go to visit Morian and then home. It wasn't an hour later and she had completed the rug, gathered her belongings, and was out the door.

Elann had been positively miserable since the 25th at work, but since the 31st and more and more each day, her coworkers had seen life slowly returning to her. This day Elann had been positively beaming, causing her co-workers to beg to have her tell them what was going on that made her so happy. Shyness had overtaken her and at the most she merely said that "something very good" was happening and that she'd let them know when she herself knew what was going on.

Now was that time, now was Tomorrow. Her chest rose and fell stronger as she thought about it and dashed out of the orangery for Morian's and then home. Through the courtyard she visibly ran, and through the crowds she sort of shuffle/ran as much as she could without getting knocked off balance or trampling over anyone.

After a short visit with Morian and a quick series of prayers, she headed out into the cold for home. Having arrived there though, she saw Garland with his two children, waiting for her in the lobby, eating a muffin. Phobos and Aneeka were upon his back as he stood there and she nodded to him, understanding.

"Hi Garland," she smiled weakly and waved him to follow, eventually taking the kids off his hands as well as their toys, drinking horn, and milk. She had him briefly get a fire going, and as he left to go patrol, she reached out, feeling almost seductive in a way, and pulled on Noah's bond. She wanted to see him, even if the children where there. She had yet to fully tell him about them and Garland's situation and the fact she had sometimes taken up the task of watching his children. She was feeling better, so she didn't mind so much that they were there. Elann had already cleaned all her cloths with soap, changed her bed linens, and looked 100% better than previously. Her body had literally burned whatever sickness that was in her out of it.

"Okay Aneeka...come here my sweet," she said in Shiber as she undid the bindings that held her and lifted her out of the cradleboard and placed her onto the rug by the fireplace. After doing the same for Phobos, she sat down on the floor with their toys in hand and awaited for Noah.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

“How much for that?” Noah asked in Fratavan, hand darting towards the intended object, a blanket lined with wolf’s fur. He stood before a stall, one ran by a woman and man of middle age. The man was selling what appeared to be venison, jerky, and other cuts of fresh and dried meats. The woman was selling the hides of the animals he caught. They were a team, he the hunter, and she the knowledgeable vendor. Deep down he admired their teamwork. They were the embodiment of Syliran people, hard working, finding a way to live despite particularly harsh winter.

“Five gold,” the woman replied. Her Fratavan was weaker than Noah’s, yet it got the point across. The woman pursed what was a small smile at him. The Bazaar was quite busy, bodies jumbling against one another, voices shouting above others: vendors trying to sell the last of their goods before nightfall, which was fast approaching. He recalled Leth’s rise in the moments before he entered the civilized jungle of the Bazaar, now he was certain Leth’s ascension was near complete. Syna was retreating, as she always did.

At the woman’s answer Noah nodded. In one of his hands was a tightly wound muslin cloth. He tucked it away into his pocket, swiftly moving to unstring his coin purse from his belt for what was the second time. He hurried, for he had grown accustom to how quickly the Bazaar moved. With nimble fingers he plucked five golden mizas from his purse, retstrung it to his belt, then extended the gold the woman’s way. She took it, quickly folded the thick blanket, tucked it under her arm to compress it more, then shoved it Noah’s way. “Thank you,” Noah signed with his free hand and rapid tongue.

“Be well,” she replied in Common, wiggling her fingers in a wave goodbye.

Noah broke away from the stall and pushed through the crowd that had formed behind him. He pushed through until he made it to the outward traffic, where fast steps carried patrons through the pathway between the stalls on either side of the Bazaar hall. He became one with the traffic, the blanket tucked beneath his arm and his hand securely placed on the wrapped muslin cloth. Once he emerged from the Bazaar’s halls, into the open streets of Syliras, he looked to the sky. The skyline of Syliras resembled the castles of old at a glance, but held many landmarks he had learned to remember in order to guide himself home without the aid of street signs or a guard’s directions.

As he gazed about the sky, patrons from the Bazaar funneled in and out of the hall behind him. Suddenly a heavy sense of yearning came over him, powerful and aching to be met. He blinked, a flash of Elann’s apartment entering his mind’s eye for the flash of a second. Accompanying the quick vision was the feeling of familiar comfort. He could’ve sworn he smelled the scent that Elann carried as well. He didn’t have to navigate the streets to know where he was going anymore, Elann’s tug had procured an imaginary map for him.

What felt like twenty chimes had passed between Elann’s summoning and Noah’s bounding up the stairs of the Traveler’s Row. As quickly as he had bound up the stairs, he was at her door. He made sure that the wrapped muslin cloth was secured in his pocket before he knocked, rapping on the wooden door with his knuckles.

Receipt :

5 GM - Common, fur lined winter blanket.

[Elann]

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Originally Elann had thought that Noah would come immediately from his apartment. He wasn't likely working, so where was he? Perhaps she had invoked the mysterious tugging of the bond while he slept? Maybe he was in the middle of a bath or visiting a friend he had made? She really didn't know, and after five minutes had passed, she realized he wasn't coming. A slight sadness overtook her at the dashing of her hopes for his immediate arrival after she got home, but there was nothing. Only the sound of the squirming babies on her floor was there to keep her company.

Elann rose and moved to take the fur from the cradleboard lining that had been added to it to keep them warm, and then brought it to where they were. She threw it out so it lightly danced over them a couple times. It was rabbit fur and very soft. The action made Phobos stare in wonder, belatedly trying to grab at it, and Aneeka let out some giggles. "Oh...why are you so precious? What are we going to do with you?" She did it a couple more times, making Phobos eventually start giggling before she fell down onto the rug onto her knees and lifted them to place them on the soft hide. "There..."

Phobos was a squirmy baby, and already she could see how he was going to likely be crawling the soonest of the two of them, but who knew. She gathered their cloth dolls and kept their rattle herself. Ten more chimes passed since she had started her playing with the little babies before there was a rap on her door.

Quickly she rose, running to the door with a spring in her step. She lingered at the doorway a little to preen her fur-lined outfit, straightening it, and combing her fingers through her hair so it looked all the more presentable. She then opened up the door, delighted smile spreading over her face. There he was. He didn't leave her. He came. Her eyes trailed confusingly to what dark mass he carried in his hands, unable to see it in the growing dark of the hallway.

"Come in. We kind of have some company..." She slid to the side, allowing him to enter and see the babies on the floor of a rug in front of the hearth. "These are my friend Garland's little babies. He...he had to go on patrol," she said shyly as she closed the door behind her. Wherever Noah went, like a little puppy, she followed in tow, awaiting to have him greet her and tell her what he had in his arms.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

While he waited in the darkened hallway, Noah gazed about, taking in the hall he had traversed many times before. It was odd for the candles mounted on the walls to not have been lit already, Matilda usually did it as Leth peaked on the horizon. Today was different though, perhaps she was busy with something else. He only hoped that her old age wasn’t catching up to her.

It didn’t take long for the latch of the door to sound and crack through the hall that he stood in. The sudden noise, as many things did lately, frightened him. His head whirled from staring at the nearby cobble wall to the door as its hinges creaked from the weight. Elann’s figure appeared, a smile bracing her face as soon as she realized it was Noah at the door. He returned the smile quickly, face reacting automatically to her appearance. Already his heart leapt in his chest and a wave of anxiety swept over him.

She invited him inside, stepping to the side as she opened the door further to allow him, and his blanket, in. With two strides of his legs he was brushing past Elann, with another he was fully in the front room of her apartment. His swift, predatory eyes landed on the two infants placed on the rug right outside her hearth. He said nothing in words, but the expression of his face, brows furrowing in confusion, mouth twisting in amusement, said it all. He stopped in his walking there, throwing Elann a look over his shoulder, as if to ask the question of whose children they were. Elann answered the question quickly, however, stating they were her friend’s, that they were Garland’s.

He continued his walk at her answer, glossing over the children on the rug once more, before making his way to her dining table. “Sorry that I’m late,” he said, setting the grey blanket on the table. “You were asking for me, weren’t you?” He wanted to confirm that the yearning he felt wasn’t just of his conjuration, but of hers. He turned to her, black cloak tail billowing out behind him before coming to rest just above the backs of his ankles. He reached up with both hands to untie the cloak from around his neck as he awaited her answer.

Once the tie was undone he shrugged the cloak off then placed it on the back of the nearest chair, listening to her answer as she gave it. “I was at the Bazaar,” he continued afterwards, pulling out the chair he set his cloak on to sit. He was dressed simply, but not quite right for the weather with a simple cotton overtunic under his cloak stripped through the middle by a tieable sash. He did not tie it. His trousers were simple as well, woolen in nature, brown in color. He wore simple black boots, beaten up by repetitive use and changing weather.

“I got some things for you.” He looked up to her, the faintest smile on his face. “I know you’re not used to this weather, so I got a blanket for you. It’s pretty thick so it should keep you warm.” He nodded his head to the blanket as he leaned down to untie the laces to his boots.

[Elann]

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Noah's brief look to the infants made her smile, amused. She could picture him, an eagle on a post, staring down at the strange squirming children. Only since hunting with him and seeing him in action could she now relate each of his movements to that of his other side of his nature. She could feel the anxiety in Noah's heart and it was doubled by her own as she left her doorway.

He asked her if she called for him and calmly she nodded, saying, "Mhmm." She suddenly felt the impulse to be almost seductive, pulling at his bond again after her talk with Morian, but refrained. It just wasn't like her. "At first I thought you were in your apartment and you didn't feel it, like it didn't work...but I guess it did hmm?" She said as she moved over to the grey blanket on the table. It felt soft and she traced her hands over it, wondering what it was doing there. Curiously she watched him take off his cloak and imagined the cold of outside that she had just come in from not long before him. She needed a thick cloak like him she figured. Perhaps it broke the wind like her cloak she had when she first came to Syliras.

Noah provided her with the reason he didn't come right away, confirming her suspicions, but a surprised look came over her soft features that danced in the light of the fire and candelabra. "For me?" She looked down to him lovingly as her fingers crawled over the fabric and fur lining of the blanket. She had been saving to buy one herself, having seen and helped make them in the Elegant Weave, but was far from having enough to want to spend the money on it. He confessed that it was for her and she turned to face it. She lifted it up and buried her face in the soft fur, giving it an embrace as she made a pleasurable 'mmm' sound. She then happily said, "I'm going to put it on my bed!"

With a little burst of a skipping run, she zipped from the living room to her bedroom and threw the fur over her bed, smoothing it out. She then climbed on top of the bed and laid on the fur. Calling out, she voiced to him, "This is the best present I've ever gotten!" It was clear he had made a great purchase for her. Full of excitement, she got back up and ran to the doorway, looking for where he was, her light boots clomped on the stone. She stopped there, her hair flying forward as momentum drove it to continue in its travels. "Thank you, Noah," she said in an amorous way. A sudden desire to kiss him on the cheek crept over her as strange as it was. She had never had the inspiration to do that since she was a tiny girl to her father. What was in that sign of affection that drove her to want to do it now? Was it because he had kissed her on the cheek?

Her eyes then traced over to the children as they had somewhat propped themselves up on their arms and desired to look around, albeit a bit floppy in motion. Suddenly she realized he had said, 'Some things'. That meant there was more than one thing. Aneeka had her cloth doll shoved into her mouth as she was looking around, so Elann moved over and picked her up, taking the doll out of her mouth and danced it around. She looked to Noah. "You said there was something else too?" Delight was on her face as she bounced the baby on her hip as she moved up close to wherever Noah had ended up. Aneeka's arms flopped about with the doll in random direction it seemed with the bounces and she also seemed pleased by them.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

For lack of a better word, Elann’s confession that she had called upon him, that she yearned to see him, made him feel good. He felt wanted in the moment. It wasn’t that, at any other time, he didn’t feel wanted. It was simply that he was wanted by her personally, and she called upon her new power over him to will him to appear. He couldn’t explain why it made him feel so good, to feel wanted. It simply was what it was, a feeling of overwhelming joy that would simmer eternally in the belly of his mind’s feelings for long as they were bonded.

As he unstrung his shoes she approached her gift, asking if it was truly for her. He hummed in confirmation, nodding as well. She picked the folded blanket up and buried her face into it, humming in contentment. It was a sight curious enough to cause him to quirk his brow, as he often did around her. She informed him that she was going to put the blanket on her bed. He simply nodded in reply, kicking off his boots. As she darted, with a skip, into her bedroom, he tidied his boots, placing them beside the chair’s legs before turning towards the now empty table.

The babies babbled behind him, but he paid them no mind. From his pocket he procured the wrapped muslin cloth. Elann’s voice erupted from her bedroom. Her words made him smile more. It brought him great joy to not only feel the happiness in Elann, but to witness it for himself. Whether she knew it or not, he aimed to please her in whichever way he could. Even if it meant expending his own cherishables.

He placed the cloth on the table, whirling his head towards her bedroom doorway as she suddenly appeared. Her sudden stop caused her hair to fling forward, lapping the air with the strands. “You’re welcome,” he mused. He spoke through a teeth baring smile. As her eyes drifted from him to the children, his own observed her in the moment, braced in the doorway. He tried to recall then what the first thing he noticed about her on the day of their meeting was. Was it her hair, soaked by the salty air of the sea, her skin, still radiant from living in the desert, or was it her eyes, a deeper blue than he had ever seen.

As she moved, his attention fell from her, taking note of where she disappeared out of the corner of his eye. He returned to unraveling the cloth, her voice eventually coming along with cooing of one of the children. Noah nodded at her question, finally unwrapping the cloth completely. The gleam of gold caught his eye. In the cloth was pair of golden ear rings, ones that dangles but were designed like feathers. “Yes,” he said. As he turned to stand he swooped up the earrings in the palm of his hand then pushed himself off of the chair. He approached her as she approached him, eyes glossing over the baby girl in her arms with the doll.

With his free hand he reached forward, catching hold of the strands of her hair that draped along the side of her face. With his fingers he pushed them back, tucking them behind her ear as they had been displaced from her skipping. He realized he quite liked her hair like that, one side tucked behind the ear, the other free and waving. His sights lingered on his work briefly before snapping back to the task at hand. “I got you these. I noticed you had your ears pierced.” The other hand was raised between them as he opened his palm to reveal the two inch long, golden, feather designed, dangling earrings. “I thought you’d like these.”

His eyes were glued to her face in that instance, watching for her reaction.

Receipt 2 :

25 GM - Feather designed, golden earrings.

[Elann]

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The baby now secured in her arms, she brought her over to the table, not nearly anticipating what was in store for her. It seemed, from what she could tell out of the corner of her eye, that he was unwrapping something. He had watched her approach with the baby, having that look on his face that he got when he was thinking of her. It was a look she now cherished. It was pure focus, a deep desire to see the details of the woman he adored. As she drew closer, his focus drifted down to swiftly undo a muslin cloth from something small he held in his hand.

Her question lingered the few moments as he finished unwrapping the gift, but as the glint of gold caught her eye, he answered. Elann blinked at it. First utterly surprised by the golden light that was protruding from his hand, all the more illuminated by the light of the fireplace. Aneeka squirmed in her arms, making the currently stunned Elann remember she was holding a baby.

Gold was something very important in her culture, something that was collected and passed on to their children. Gold was a symbol of status and wealth, but it was also a sign of marriage. Married men and women both got gold on their wedding days as gifts and the wife generally would wear a golden locket about her neck to show she was married. Elann took in a trembled breath as he drew near. She knew whatever was in his hands was a thoughtful expensive gift for her. He brushed aside her hair lovingly and her eyes looked up to his as he spoke. Elann felt Aneeka squirm in her arms and she held her tight, afraid of dropping her due to seeing what the gold was in his hands. As he showed her, she had to bite her lower lip.

"One moment."

It was an awkward response, but it became apparent what she was saying it for. Quickly and carefully she set down the baby in her arms back onto the fur where she began to kick and flop about, happy to be back near her brother. Elann half ran back to Noah's side, pulling the disobedient hair back behind her ears and shoulders with a shake of her head. She drew close to him, invading his personal space as she took a closer look at the earrings in his hand.

"They are sooo beautiful. How..." She looked up to him. Having not realized how close she was, his presence gave her slight pause, "How did you notice I had my ears pierced?"

Happily she took them from his hand and with a flick of her hair to one side, she watched him lovingly as her fingers instinctively undid the stopper. She reached up to her bare ear and slid the earring through. She connected it and put the stopper back on; half displaying now what they'd look like on her, and then flipped her hair the other way. The scent of earth and perfume was tossed into the air and once the other side was attached, she lowered her hands to her front and with a smile; looking up to him.

"Do they look good?"

Only now, as she adorned herself with her gift and stood upright expectingly cute, did it seem like what frumpy beauty she had, was actually a disguise. Elann had the potential to be someone very gorgeous, adorned in jewelry, with flowers in her hair, makeups, perfumes, and fancy clothes. It wasn't the woman he knew before him now. It was a queen.

She turned her head from side to side, flopping the earrings against her as if to show them off to him, awaiting his words and emotions.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

He watched on as she moved to set the baby back on the fur rug with what he assumed was its sibling. She was gentle in her movements, but hasty nonetheless, no doubt wanting to return to her gift quickly. Her saunter towards him was enough to confirm his suspicions. Hurriedly she came to him, pushing through the invisible line of his personal space. It wasn’t a line she had crossed often before, but he believed that it would eventually fade altogether given their newfound likeness of one another. He looked down to her as she came into his side, gazing at the earrings placed in his palm. She expressed her liking of them, confessing that she found them extremely beautiful.

Elann looked up at him, pausing in her motions as a flicker of what he registered as doubt glazed itself over her face. He looked on, unfazed, until she continued, asking the question of how he noticed her ears were pierced. He shrugged initially, not understanding the purpose of asking such a question. Wasn’t it enough that he noticed something so small, so minuscule? If it wasn’t, then why? Still he shrugged, playing off the question as trivial. Surely she understood he could notice the smallest details by now. “The last time I moved your hair behind your ear, I noticed your piercings. That’s all.” As always, he spoke truthfully to her, motioning his open palm towards her to take the jewelry.

She took them, plucking them from his hand with her weaver’s fingers. Noah turned, slight enough to face her, then observed as she put them on. She tossed her hair to the side to reveal her ear, subconsciously undoing the stopper and placing the hooks into the lobe. Her hair was tossed into the air again, revealing the other ear, then she put the second earring in too. Elann took on a pose afterwards, letting her hands drop to the front of her being as a smile came across her face. She looked up at him, asking his opinion of her new jewelry.

The simple beauty Noah believed she possessed remained, except was enhanced further by his baubles to her. It added to the luster of her complexion, complimented the darkness of her hair, enchanted the brightness of her eyes. To him, she appeared vibrant, her smile only further cementing the thought. He stood for a moment, simply examining her in the warm light. His gaze slowly traveled from either ear, taking in the assets of her face before he nodded. “You,” he emphasized, “look good.” He showed her a simple smile. He was proud of himself for having chosen gifts that she enjoyed, and was happy that she enjoyed them. Noah knew that it was the first of many that he’d get her.

The cooing of the babies near the hearth caught his attention. They squirmed on the rug, battering their toys on the floor, shifting them against the fur. He turned his head away from Elann, instead looking on at the children. “You said they were your friend’s?” he asked without looking to her for an answer. From the distance he saw them, taking in their soft complexions and delicate skin. “They’re cute.” There was hesitation in his voice, as if he wasn’t quite sure if ‘cute’ was the right word for them. They were awkward, truthfully, with large heads and chubby bodies. “What’re their names?” He looked to her then, awaiting her answer with a patience gaze.

[Elann]

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Noah shrugged. She knew it was a silly question. The gift was what was important. It was anything she could do from not bursting with excitement. If that meant asking a silly question like how he had noticed her ear piercings, then so be it. Still, he answered her, giving her a very plausible reasoning behind the gift.

"That was very thoughtful of you Noah...Thank you..." she spoke, still only able to project herself in a whisper.

Finally fitting them into her ears, she posed, awaiting his word on how she looked. It didn't come right away though. With his deep intensity and ability to focus so well on something, it made her bubble up inside with an amorous nervousness. He was there, examining not just her earrings, but how beautiful she looked in them. Her index finger from her left hand shot up out of pure nervousness to rest her nail in between her teeth. A smile spread over her face as he emphasized the word you. It was a big toothy smile, and her finger shot back down to her waist instantly as he said she looked good. A split second later her lower lip had taken the place of her finger, obviously feeling a growing love for him. Shyly she looked down and away toward the babies as the fingers of both of her hands played with each other nervously.

She could easily get lost in his eyes and find herself drawn into temptation; into the very new feelings that had represented themselves. The light taps of the golden feathers felt cool and she leaned her head to once side, baring her neck slightly just so she could feel the metal briefly against her skin once more.

He asked about the children and she nodded. They certainly weren't hers, and in her mind, they were hardly Garland's. "Mhmm..." she said, still in a quieted near romantic tone. "Garland's." She said shortly in response. He commented on how cute they were and with a bit of joy, she laughed and said, "Yeah...too cute." She looked back to him, finding a reminder that he still was so close to her. "Phobos is the boy, and Aneeka is the girl." A slightly sad look passed over her face as she looked away to the children. "Their mother abandoned them with him. I've been watching them as a courtesy any chance I can. At least until he can get something situated."

Elann moved a hand to Noah's chest lovingly and stepped back, showing that she was leaving his space, but with care. She moved then to lower herself on the rug next to the babies and sat cross-legged there. Newly interested more with her than their dolls, they looked her way with shaky wobbled looks. "Come here," she said beckoning him with a finger, and because she knew now that the bond between them did work to bring him to her, with a sly near flirtatious look, she pulled on their bond.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

Elann confirmed Noah’s question. They were her friend’s children. He had heard correctly. The question posed now, however, was who was Garland? The name possessed masculine tones, ending in a hard sound, making the Kelvic think that Garland was a man. Her laugh distracted him from his thoughts as he absentmindedly stared at the children. She agreed with Noah’s sentiment, they were ‘cute’. She then told him their names. The boy was Phobos, the girl was Aneeka. To him the names sounded exotic in nature, much different from his own name which was quite plain, basic even. He believed names usually mirrored their wielder. The theory was true enough in his case. He believed himself to be quite simple, quiet even. Elann’s name seemed soft, in his mind, kind, laced with a strong ending that denoted her own strength which could’ve been mistaken for stubbornness - which it was at times.

Noah returned his attention to Elann, turning to face her again as she looked towards the children. He noted the sadness etching itself subtly on her face before she spoke of a mother’s abandonment and an extension of her kindness to Garland, the father. While he didn’t know how long Elann knew Garland, he was certain that she would’ve extended the offer regardless of knowing the man for a decent length of time or not. She was like that, kind and overly thoughtful depending on who one asked. Again, he was pulled from his inner thoughts at the lightest touch of Elann’s hand against his chest. She moved away afterwards, treading towards the children on the rug before lowering herself on the floor beside them.

Noah remained standing in place, watching on curiously, even canting his head slightly to the side. Elann’s voice came, beckoning him to approach accompanied by not only the wriggle of her finger, but also the familiar, intense yearning he felt earlier. Without a word he came, sock covered feet carrying him in the small distance between himself and Elann and the children. He came, standing at her side, briefly looking over the babies on the floor before lowering himself in a squat as he believed it was what Elann initially wanted.

Up close the babies appeared even more awkward than originally thought. He wasn’t repulsed by them as much as he was intrigued. He tilted his head a fraction to the side again. Animalistic curiosity was overcoming him. He sat there in his squat with his hands placed over his knees and head peaking between them. “Phobos,” he whispered, testing the name himself as he gazed upon the boy. “Aneeka,” he came again, shifting his eyes to the girl, the one that Elann had held moments earlier. Then he looked to Elann herself. “Do you know where their mother is?”