05-17-2014, 04:18 PM
Because he wanted to. The answer offered little in the way of insight, or at least none she was of a mind to unravel while exhaustion nipped at her heels. Perhaps it really had been curiosity, but the Ijiraq's words lingered and the mystery of it connected to the teenager sat opposite. Elias had clutched the creature's chest, and it had shrieked and writhed, unable to detach. It had promised to come back for him. Whatever silent contemplations passed behind Tehya's dark gaze, though, she didn't share them - if it was clear she was thinking something. In fact she said nothing at all, content with the silence.
Her expression remained level when Connor spoke; as much as she could keep it at least, considering the layers of shock it shuddered to her core. Aria? The name completed itself in her mind, perhaps because the very same woman had contacted her back on the platform. It seemed she'd revealed far more to an innocent than she should have, no matter what he had seen of the world's shadows. He spoke of magic. He spoke of gods. He warned her.
Though Connor believed he was doing the right thing, his warnings fisted round her heart. Her misgivings were grave; good intentions paved short roads to hell, and this man was full of well meaning foolishness. He held her secret in his palm. He held her life in his palm, particularly if he knew Aria. She fought to remember what he had said back on the platform, while he and Elias had rattled at each other, but the words slipped through her fingers like sand. She regretted the inattention now. He had recognised the Ijiraq - but how did he know of gods? What had Aria done?
"I'm Native American, Connor. Not a magician."
Dryness touched her words, and though her tone was gently chiding she did not appear offended. "Such a... group. I doubt they would take kindly to your intereference. You might wish to be careful yourself; anyone could be listening."
Though her words held gravity, she shrugged a little, dispelling the lingering of her own tenseness. It concerned her to let him walk away - armed with knowledge of the Atharim, and more with suspicion of her own secret - but there was precious little she could do. If she pursued the topic, if she accepted his offer of escort, she would only be miring him deeper in Atharim affairs. Better he forgot Tehya all together. Better the oddities he had seen faded to the normalcy of his everyday life, and he moved on. It was the best protection she could offer him.
"You're a gentleman, but I really am okay."
She had no plans to return home anyway; nothing waited there but emptiness and shadows, and she was fairly sure she could push through this fatigue. Her lips pressed into a reserved smile. "And thank you, for what you did."
She inclined her head courteously, stoic in her gratitude, but sincere.
Her expression remained level when Connor spoke; as much as she could keep it at least, considering the layers of shock it shuddered to her core. Aria? The name completed itself in her mind, perhaps because the very same woman had contacted her back on the platform. It seemed she'd revealed far more to an innocent than she should have, no matter what he had seen of the world's shadows. He spoke of magic. He spoke of gods. He warned her.
Though Connor believed he was doing the right thing, his warnings fisted round her heart. Her misgivings were grave; good intentions paved short roads to hell, and this man was full of well meaning foolishness. He held her secret in his palm. He held her life in his palm, particularly if he knew Aria. She fought to remember what he had said back on the platform, while he and Elias had rattled at each other, but the words slipped through her fingers like sand. She regretted the inattention now. He had recognised the Ijiraq - but how did he know of gods? What had Aria done?
"I'm Native American, Connor. Not a magician."
Dryness touched her words, and though her tone was gently chiding she did not appear offended. "Such a... group. I doubt they would take kindly to your intereference. You might wish to be careful yourself; anyone could be listening."
Though her words held gravity, she shrugged a little, dispelling the lingering of her own tenseness. It concerned her to let him walk away - armed with knowledge of the Atharim, and more with suspicion of her own secret - but there was precious little she could do. If she pursued the topic, if she accepted his offer of escort, she would only be miring him deeper in Atharim affairs. Better he forgot Tehya all together. Better the oddities he had seen faded to the normalcy of his everyday life, and he moved on. It was the best protection she could offer him.
"You're a gentleman, but I really am okay."
She had no plans to return home anyway; nothing waited there but emptiness and shadows, and she was fairly sure she could push through this fatigue. Her lips pressed into a reserved smile. "And thank you, for what you did."
She inclined her head courteously, stoic in her gratitude, but sincere.