<strong>Eshalu - with the party, on route to Commandant Vin's office</strong><br/><br/>Eshalu followed Aeryn wordlessly, listening carefully to the snippets of conversation she could catch whilst keeping a wary eye out for any sudden complications. The island had put her on edge and everyone seemed to be behaving like they were unaware of this.<br/><br/>It would be up to her to remain alert.<br/><br/>She walked with her hood pulled down, hoping not to draw too much attention to herself. The tall woman and the mountain elf were evident enough, but she had been taught that passing unobserved in a foreign land was immensely preferable to being subjected to the attentions of the locals. Curiosity could be a small step removed from hatred and violence, especially in humans. Reliyian's easy, relaxed manner with those of other races was perplexing for that reason.<br/><br/>For an instant she felt a pang of hunger. Nothing serious - she knew she could do without food for days, if need be - but there had been something unsatisfying about the few pieces of underripe fruit she had eaten since arriving on Dra Sirdu. The very thought of eating the cheese on offer made her stomach turn. There was something unwholesome about drinking the milk of stinking quadrupeds. Aeryn had made her try once and the revolting, yellow paste had succeeded only in making her violently ill.<br/><br/>"Your offer of food was very generous," she told Aeryn, "but perhaps I should dig up some tubers and kill a few partridges if we are to eat later today..."