Stranger in a familiar land

[Helena]

“Where else was I supposed to take you? Expedience was necessary.” As he would well enough recall. But the circumstance of their departure from the farmstead was certainly not something Talin wanted to either remind him of or to open for discussion. She did not look up, and did not add that she hoped sight of the Stone might guild his vow of vengeance. “One city is much as another. I care for none of them.” And he would be mobile soon enough; it would not be necessary for her to take him anywhere else, light willing. As soon as Arikan had the information he needed, or at least a good source for it, she fully expected him to set like a hound on the scent of blood. Though she tucked away the suggestion that he was Tarien born himself. No one else would bother alluding to such baseless and ancient enmity.

“At least it would put the flesh to good use, I suppose. Better than rotting.” It was muttered somewhat thoughtfully, paying only half mind to the distraction of conversation. Then:

“For light’s sake, why are you grimacing? This should not be hurting you.” At that she did look up, stare flat, lips slightly pursed. His discomfort did not concern her, and it was not the source of her consternation. Rather, perfection of the weave was.

At the lift of his brow she looked somewhat disturbed for a moment. Arikan’s attempts at humour were frankly uncomfortable, and so she ignored it entirely.

“Some time ago an emissary came to the Tower, seeking aid against the Blight. The great-niece of the King of Shienar no less. But the request was denied: the Blight is quiet, as quiet as it has been in fifty years, so the Tower says. But I have been north recently, to Fal Sion, and it is not good there.” Talin did not speak in an impassioned tone, only a factual one. She made no mention of Kaori, of course.