Afterwards

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hello! Mind if I join?"

[Anastasia]

Father turns and looks up from his meal. "Alyssa," he says, "Join us."

"There you are," Alihana says, "At least you aren't that slave driver."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Yet. Wait until I take you as a proper apprentice."

[Anastasia]

Alihana groans loudly, "Mercy and light, take me now."

Mother turns at that, "Speaking of, how is Emily? Jarem mentioned she wasn't doing so well."

[Iron Dragoon]

"She's upset. Ianvasah was in a bad way. She was getting lost in her weakness. I had to give her something to focus it, so I gave her a hard time."

[Anastasia]

Walt nods in understanding, while Alihana frowns.

Mother murmurs, "Will that really help? It sounds like she needs a hug, not cruelty."

[Iron Dragoon]

"She does now. She was close to starting to lash out at anyone. Now that she's been given some focus, she can start walking forward."

[Anastasia]

"Then give it to her," Mother says, "She sounds like she's in a lot of pain."

"It's not how it works, dear," Walt says, "A female adventurer is more like a man in temperament. She knows battle and blood, not the tender mercies of a maiden's heart. No, she needs to fight."

[Iron Dragoon]

"This one aspires to be a dragon. Shape-shifts into one. Emily's giving her the support she needs, don't worry mom. I'll make up with her when she's ready. She just need a push out of the door, so to speak."

[Anastasia]

"You make her sound so..." Mother frowns even more.

"She'll be fine, she's made of tough stuff," Father retorts, "What of the others, are they well?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Bumps and bruises and frustration, mostly. And mom, she's pretty rough and tumble. I found her sitting in a grove telling a king to screw off and bring his army."

[Anastasia]

Mother goes quiet at that, "...oh."

"So," Alihana says, "How is your band of misfits, sister? Besides tougher than nails?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Still a work in progress. Everyone's finding how they fit together. Jarem and Dolmaya started... dating I guess. I'm not sure if it's as serious as dating or just fun for them."

[Anastasia]

"Really?" Mother asks, "It doesn't sound like a serious courtship then?"

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa shrugs.

"Dolmaya's a few thousand years old. She's had kids, grand kids, great-grand kids, great-great grand kids and so on. I'm not sure she's all that interested in going down that road again. Jarem's a soldier, through and through. He goes where battle is and expects to die. How it develops is up to them."