Aria listened carefully to what Scholar had to say, obviously interested in learning about the customs of others. That was her court training coming out. Knowing what the cultures of other beings were helped you to not insult them, and could help to create better diplomatic (or undiplomatic as the case often enough was for faeries) relations. Her expression saddened at the mention that he would live alone because of the death of his mate, but she did not offer words of sympathy. Words were flat, actions were not, and she had no way of showing her sympathy to him. She couldn’t imagine it, herself. Being that in love with someone that you lived alone after their deaths. She knew how maddening it could be to stay by yourself from her time in the church. Silently she made a goal for herself to find some other piece of knowledge based puzzle to help occupy Scholar. She seemed to accept, though, that entertainment of the puzzle of unbinding her wings was payment enough. “I know that you will want nothing. That’s the problem and why I came to ask you.” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Perhaps she would just have to find a way to repay him on her own.<br/><br/>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~<br/><br/>Marcus snorted from his place ahead of them as he listened in with his enhanced hearing. The woman had never been around that many children. She was in for a treat then. And he was more than ready to get back to the Old Man and have these burns dealt with. The pain made his head ache and made it difficult to concentrate on walking and where he was going.<br/><br/>TamLin smiled. “Well met, Blazil. I am TamLin, and my brother there was Marcus. We’ll get some food in your stomach and get you set and give the city some time to not be in a buzz.”<br/><br/>Eventually they went away from the path, walking along something that looked rather like an animal trail. After a time they veered away from that as well. It seemed like hours of walking before they came to the edge of the forest, which ended in a clear piece of land and then a rock face. There, almost hidden, was a cave. Marcus was already headed that direction when TamLin and Blazil emerged from the forest edge.<br/><br/>A loud, high pitched screech was heard from the cave and soon enough five children came barreling out. Maruc held up his arms so that the children couldn’t reach them as he was practically tackled, barely standing his ground. His voice was muffled as he chided the children and told them to behave, telling them he was hurt. The children instantly stopped.<br/><br/>One girl, a little brown haired mouse of a child, looked suddenly sad. “What happened, Marcus?” she asked in a sweet voice.<br/><br/>Marcus didn’t show the girl his burns, keeping her away from that sort of violent injury. “Never hug a fire.” He replied and walked through the tiny sea of children to the cave entrance, where an elderly man stood watching. The old man had been looking, confused, at Blazil as they walked, but turned his attention to Marcus and the darker elf showed him his burns. The old man nodded and he and Marcus went into the cave.<br/><br/>TamLin grinned the moment the children appeared. “Little birds! My how you chirp.” She said as the children flowed towards them once Marcus had gone. A few of the children giggled and made surprisingly accurate bird sounds in reply. When they gathered around TamLin, she picked up the youngest to carry him.<br/><br/>“Allow me to introduce you, Blazil. These are our (Marcus and Mine and Old John’s) patrons. We work for them. And this is their home,” she added a nod in the direction of the cave to indicate it.