06-04-2014, 02:27 PM
Elias's rather caustic surprise didn't offend her. She'd spent a lifetime carefully manufacturing a quiet and forgettable image, so his amusement at her expense was strangely gratifying. Had the snake on her wrist not shielded a necessary barrier, she might have laughed at the dry humour, but she dampened the reaction and retreated from the social connection. This was the longest conversation she'd had with anyone besides one of her people since she'd arrived in Moscow, and even now the core of it came down to business. It was better to focus on that. She did not need to be friendly.
Her gaze waited patiently for an answer, and though she watched him closely, she gave no indication of desiring to press the issue. If he shied away it would not stop her hunting the ijiraq, but Elias was the best platform she had to make the task easier; she cringed at the term bait, but understood the harsh realities of her intentions. Tehya did not mean to sacrifice him unless he gave her a compelling enough reason to force her hand to the necessity; she thought of his blackening hand, the determined look that had held his features, and prayed to the Spirits that he would not.
To compound her internal conflict further, the faint impression of Elias's smile plummeted her stomach with guilt. It was the lightest emotion to cross his face since she'd met him on the platform, and in such a way it felt burdened with the gift of trust. She did not want to pierce that black, enclosed shell. Her gaze broke to watch the rush of darkness outside the window. "I'll need some time to prepare. How long are you staying in Moscow?"
Her gaze waited patiently for an answer, and though she watched him closely, she gave no indication of desiring to press the issue. If he shied away it would not stop her hunting the ijiraq, but Elias was the best platform she had to make the task easier; she cringed at the term bait, but understood the harsh realities of her intentions. Tehya did not mean to sacrifice him unless he gave her a compelling enough reason to force her hand to the necessity; she thought of his blackening hand, the determined look that had held his features, and prayed to the Spirits that he would not.
To compound her internal conflict further, the faint impression of Elias's smile plummeted her stomach with guilt. It was the lightest emotion to cross his face since she'd met him on the platform, and in such a way it felt burdened with the gift of trust. She did not want to pierce that black, enclosed shell. Her gaze broke to watch the rush of darkness outside the window. "I'll need some time to prepare. How long are you staying in Moscow?"