Flora's confidence was compelling, and Hadama gave her his full attention as she continued to make her case. His chin dipped in a small nod of acknowledgment at her mention of council and goddess, but at the insistence that their region was dying his steely brows rose.
"Safrin will return," he said calmly, unperturbed and steadfast in his belief. "But your point about a council is good. When times were quiet, it did not seem necessary. Now..." With Harper gone and unusual LongNight lights and strange weather and plants cropping up, it was, indeed, too much for one person to handle. "...Yes."
Emerald eyes continued to meet blue as the mermanta paused, considering his next words carefully. "King's End will draw the curious. As Torchline did, when the portals first opened." he said slowly. "Others, I have not heard of, but Harper... indeed. And you played a part in that." He, too, was unflinching as he spoke, calm but weary in his words before he rallied. "But I have others I am working to bring to our shores."
The tavern's re-opening had, indeed, been the finest party Hadama had seen on the surface, but that was a year in the past now and time had marched onward, inexorable as the tide. His voice was low and slow and steady as he spoke, laying out his own concerns so that she could answer them. "You want to lead. I want proof that you can be a good leader, Flora. And that you will not abandon your responsibilities if you are bored. What happened to the rocks you volunteered to gather from Apopo three seasons ago for Torchline's sake? What happened to your guild?"
"Safrin will return," he said calmly, unperturbed and steadfast in his belief. "But your point about a council is good. When times were quiet, it did not seem necessary. Now..." With Harper gone and unusual LongNight lights and strange weather and plants cropping up, it was, indeed, too much for one person to handle. "...Yes."
Emerald eyes continued to meet blue as the mermanta paused, considering his next words carefully. "King's End will draw the curious. As Torchline did, when the portals first opened." he said slowly. "Others, I have not heard of, but Harper... indeed. And you played a part in that." He, too, was unflinching as he spoke, calm but weary in his words before he rallied. "But I have others I am working to bring to our shores."
The tavern's re-opening had, indeed, been the finest party Hadama had seen on the surface, but that was a year in the past now and time had marched onward, inexorable as the tide. His voice was low and slow and steady as he spoke, laying out his own concerns so that she could answer them. "You want to lead. I want proof that you can be a good leader, Flora. And that you will not abandon your responsibilities if you are bored. What happened to the rocks you volunteered to gather from Apopo three seasons ago for Torchline's sake? What happened to your guild?"
