She knew he liked it when she took his face into her hands, but he did it so rarely to her that Navia always found Théadan doing so to be touching. There was something so sweet about him doing it; those hands of his hand brought about much pain, had suffered their own pain, and yet they held her face as if she were immensely delicate. He paired it with a kiss to her forehead, and Navia felt her heart tug with affection for him. She was so lucky to have found such an affectionate, kind man to call her own. Then he stepped back from her, leaving her wanting his warmth and affection, and she had to frown after him as he left her side. Confusion forming on her features, Navia watched as he held up a finger for her to wait before she could decide to follow after him.<br/><br/>The spa windows were open to allow the breezes to enter and to keep the inside spaces from growing stuffy, though it appeared Théadan was intent on using them for a different purpose. He stuck his head out, leaned down, and was soon retreating from the window with a flower in hand. The flower he walked back with was delicate, a pretty violet color, and lit up Navia’s features. He offered it to her, pointing out it wasn’t<i>rajjana </i>like she preferred, but would still be pretty on her, and Navia grinned up at him for both the compliment and the little gift. She had expected him to think of something they could do, perhaps sneak away for a few minutes for a few more kisses, not actually give her something. This was better; she found herself charmed by the little flower. “This isn’t sacred that I know of,” Navia assured Théadan, her thumb and index finger closing around the stem of the little violet flower when it was offered to her. She brought it to her nose to take in the scent, her dark eyes considering him quietly while she did so.<br/><br/>“I love it,” she smiled up at him, tucking it into her hair and behind her ear so it would be on display beside her face. After a small brush of the petals with her fingertips so she could enjoy the smooth texture, Navia reached out to steady a hand on Théadan’s arms. Using that leverage, she rose onto her toes to press a warm kiss to his cheek, “Thank you. I don’t even need a reward later to be sweet to you when you do things like this.” Affection stirring for him, her hand slid under his arm to his back for a better hold on him as her lips sought his for another kiss. It was light, not much more than a brush, and Navia stepped closer, her dark eyes searching his while she smiled up at him, “Have I ever told you how much I adore you?”<br/><br/>“Tell him later,” an aged voice barked from behind her, “You were supposed to be bringing him to me, not kissing him in the hallway.”<br/><br/>Navia blinked up at Théadan, having not expected the interruption, then chuckled and stepped back from him. “I couldn’t resist. He gave me a flower,” she pointed out with a shrug, turning around to face Osa.<br/><br/>The older woman studied Navia for a long beat, centering on the flower in her hair, before her mismatched gaze jumped over to Théadan, the milky white eye staring forward while the other swept over him. After a moment’s scrutiny, she nodded and Osa raised a gnarled, ring-laden hand and gestured for Théadan to come forward with the curl of her finger. “Come,<i>Avezana</i>,” she commanded, “We must speak.” Without waiting for an answer, Osa turned and began to slowly make her way toward a nearby door.<br/><br/>“Osa, don’t call him that,” Navia protested, leaving his side to follow after the elder woman, the relaxed smile on her face disappearing.<br/><br/>“He is Mes’Mo’Tanian, is he not?”<br/><br/>“Yes, but most people use that as a derogatory—“<br/><br/>“It means Mes’Mo’Tanian in our language,” Osa snapped at Navia, turning back to eye Théadan again while she pushed open the door, “You are Théadan Rúl, or are you not? Youngest son of your king and third in line to the throne?” It was rhetoric, for Osa continued on, entering the room without waiting for them, “You come sit with Osa. I have questions.”<br/><br/>Navia paused in the doorway, taking in the sitting area within. It was a plush setting, the windows large to let in jungle views and light during the day and framed by large torches for the evening. They were lit, bathing the room in a dusky glow. Two plush white couches were the focal point, low to the ground with wood accents. An ornate wooden table rested in the middle of the room, with pillows strewn around it for sitting, and plants in pots in the corners of the room. The main source of color for the room besides the white they had come to expect of the spa was the green of the plants and the matching tapestry of a mandala above one of the couches. Osa made no move to sit on one of the couches though, instead sitting on a pillow in front of the low table, where a glass of wine was already sitting in addition to a small bowl of water.<br/><br/>“You are not needed for now, Navia,” Osa announced plainly, gesturing toward one of the couches, “You sit there and rest your feet. They will ache in the future, so care for them now.”<br/><br/>“I’ll sit with—“<br/><br/>“Théadan will sit there,” Osa gestured across from her to one of the pillows on the other side of the table, her hands laying out flat on the tabletop, palms up, “And he will place his hands atop mine so our palms may meet. You will be patient and quiet, or he will not give you that reward you agreed on.” Osa glanced over at Navia with a hint of a smirk, then gave Théadan her full attention while she waited for him to comply.<br/><br/>Exasperated, but used to Osa’s coarse demands, Navia sighed and sat down on one of the couches, her eyes intent on Théadan to see what Osa would do. Once their hands were layered with his on top, Navia watched Osa lean forward slightly to make sure she had Théadan’s full attention before asking bluntly, “Why are you here?”