"Can you?" Malcolm sat up slowly, recognising how uncomfortable Elyna seemed all the the sudden. "Avari disappeared soon after freeing the captives," the captain explained, hoping in doing so that Elyna might relax again. "You... seem troubled by something, my lady?" Malcolm changed his mind, it bothered him that the woman was so ill at ease in his presence. "Have I done or said something to offend?" He looked at her, or at least tried to look her in the eye and his hand reached out to touch hers, only brushing the top of her fingers briefly before realising how inappropriate the gesture might look if one of his comrades were to turn about and see it.
Malcolm looked down at his feet and leaned forward to cross his arms upon his knees. He undid his cloak and let it fall away as if hot all of the sudden, nervous or maybe even embarrassed, the feeling was difficult to describe let alone acknowledge. He often felt a mix of emotions in the woman's company, but doubted any of them fit to be deemed as inappropriate, of course, that was not to say he didn't find her attractive, for Elyna was a very beautiful young woman, but he had worked with beautiful women before. No, this was something else, or a mix of the two, he felt responsible for her, drawn to a guarded sense of self he found it almost effortless to related to, and concerned that Elyna felt alone in this world, or at least the city. The Mortalborn knew a thing or two about loneliness.
Before Elyna could answer, Malcolm piped up again, "we don't have to talk here." He felt the heavy presence of those in their company as keenly as the woman herself probably did and thought that opting to put some distance between them might give the noble woman a chance to open up.
Malcolm looked down at his feet and leaned forward to cross his arms upon his knees. He undid his cloak and let it fall away as if hot all of the sudden, nervous or maybe even embarrassed, the feeling was difficult to describe let alone acknowledge. He often felt a mix of emotions in the woman's company, but doubted any of them fit to be deemed as inappropriate, of course, that was not to say he didn't find her attractive, for Elyna was a very beautiful young woman, but he had worked with beautiful women before. No, this was something else, or a mix of the two, he felt responsible for her, drawn to a guarded sense of self he found it almost effortless to related to, and concerned that Elyna felt alone in this world, or at least the city. The Mortalborn knew a thing or two about loneliness.
Before Elyna could answer, Malcolm piped up again, "we don't have to talk here." He felt the heavy presence of those in their company as keenly as the woman herself probably did and thought that opting to put some distance between them might give the noble woman a chance to open up.
I really like it, though. It's also cool to realize how much they've grown since Ashan - and how much trouble you've thrown their way! Wonderful interactions, as always. Looking forward to the next one!