Verdandi sat beside her grandfather, though Erion explained that she was really his great great granddaughter, but that was too much of a mouthful and it made him feel as old as he really was. Rezo sat in the armed chair across the coffee table from them sipping his tea and mostly listening to Erion's explanation of what happened to him. The Red Priest was unsure if she was crying over it, or perhaps she was holding it all in for later, but in any case, she was quiet and didn't ask about this or that detail that Rezo had found annoying in most other females.

It was somewhat strange to sit so ignored in such a close setting, yet ignored he was- or so he thought. Verdandi kept glancing at him from time to time, wondering if she should interrupt her grandfather to include Rezo into the conversation. Or maybe he didn't want to talk? She fretted that she was being a bad hostess for ignoring him, or maybe a terrible granddaughter for worrying over a guest when her grandfather had just told her that he could never cast magic again.

Erion sighed finally, looking out the window, "It's evening, Verdandi," he accused, as if she'd let the sun go to bed without telling him that she'd sent it on its way. "You let me talk all afternoon." He stood, smiling kindly at her. "Show Rezo to the guest room to put his things away and start dinner.. I think I'm going to get a nap. It's been a very long day."

He moved out of the room as Rezo stayed seated and silent, Verdandi wondered if he'd fallen asleep, for his eyes were closed and his hands resting on the armrests. He'd set his teacup down long ago and not bothered to mention that he'd wanted a refill, so she assumed that he hadn't wanted one. She stood, coming around the coffee table to stand beside Rezo, about to reach out and tap his shoulder, but he turned his face up toward her with a smile, "Quite talkative when you give him sugar, isn't he?" he commented and stood.

Verdandi couldn't help but giggle, amazed that Rezo had picked that up so quickly. It was true, Erion did get hyper easily and when hyper talked non stop. She had missed him dearly. "Yes," she said softly, "Um.. this way-" she turned, but felt a touch on her shoulder, so she turned to face her guest once more.

"I," he blushed faintly, "This is a new place for me, so please forgive me if I trip over something," he said but felt his hand taken by slender delicate fingers.

"I won't let you trip," she said, smiling up at him, though it fell as she looked at his open expression- yet closed eyes. She turned once more, leading him slowly toward the guest room.

"Which room is Erion's?" he asked and she stopped in the hall at the room in which the Blue Mage had retreated. Rezo reached out a hand to touch the door, feeling much of the surface, as if memorizing it for later use. He nodded and Verdandi continued along, aware that Rezo was trailing his fingers along the wall.

She stopped again. "This one is my room," she said, blushing as she watched Rezo repeat his act from the first door. Onward she led him to the final door in the hall and he turned to smile at her, giving a slight bow of his head.

"Thank you," he said and stepped into the room after touching the door and slowly exploring with his hands and thumping into things with his feet occasionally. She watched in pity as he found the bed and sat down on it. "Thank you again," he said, as if he'd known she had been there the whole time. "I believe I can manage from here."

Verdandi blushed, her fingers twisting together, "Um," she mumbled, "Your welcome," she stated and hurried away, not wanting to stare at him any more, knowing well that it was rude, and yet, he couldn't see it and... he was so intriguing. Dependent on people, yet so independent.

In the kitchen, she busily worked on making dinner, trying to keep her mind off her new guest. "I'm so rude," she muttered to herself as she started cutting the chicken into strips for frying. "Staring at him like that... like he's a freak..." she hung her head, stopping her hands, "No, that's not it." She stared at the meat, noting how it was shaped somewhat like a heart on her cutting board and she tipped her head to the side, "That's silly," she told herself firmly, "I don't even know him. He hasn't said more than twenty words to me." Though she knew with certainty that he was likely to steal her heart before long, he already had a good start on it, just by needing someone so obviously as he did.

****

Verdandi took her time getting dinner ready, letting Erion rest and trying to keep her mind off Rezo by just not seeing him for a while- yet he seemed to have other ideas about that and managed to find his way into the kitchen with a look of mild perturbation on his face. She looked down at her skillet and wooden spoon, blushing.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked.

"Got bored," Rezo replied, knowing she was wondering how he'd gotten through the house. He could tell her that he'd followed her scent, though that would probably disturb her, so he said nothing, instead moving around the other side of the room, his fingers brushing over the counter top and finding the small round table with two chairs set at it. "You're rather young to be living on your own," he stated.

She looked back at her cooking, worried over burning it with her inattention, "Silly me," she thought to herself, "He's just a man, nothing to be so distracted over." She took a breath and replied to his question, "They died, a few years ago. For a while, I had a live-in baby-sitter, but she died just last spring."

Rezo gave a soft snort of a laugh and slid into a seat at the table, "You don't sound like you miss her that much."

Verdandi couldn't help but laugh, he had picked out her true feelings so easily. "No, she was rather mean to me, but I didn't wish her dead. She had an accident with a horse. I suppose someone else had a grudge against her."

He nodded slowly, listening to her silently.

"I'm sorry, I talk just as much as grandfather. What about you? You don't look that old, but I know that high association with magic can change one's age."

His lips twisted into a slight and gentle smirk, "How old do you think I am?" he asked in return, throwing the question back to her. He had just come to hear her talk, though he couldn't admit it to himself as yet.

She bit her lip and turned to look at him, "I'm afraid I would insult you with my guess," she said but felt her heart flutter at his smile. Suddenly, she realized that she was smelling smoke and quickly turned around once more, taking hold of the hot pan and accidentally burning her fingers. She hissed in pain and set the pan down to clutch her hand. A blush stained her face as she looked up at Rezo.

"Here, let me..." he said softly and she felt her hands taken by his own. "It isn't bad," he murmured, intensely aware of how close she was, how her breath had become shallow and her scent much stronger. She smelled of springtime flowers even though it was nearing fall. Rezo could feel his own heart speeding up for absolutely no reason that he could fathom and he felt giddy, simply standing there holding her hands.

There was a soft throat clearing and Rezo blushed brightly, casting the healing spell and stepping back, "She burned her hand," he stated quickly to Erion, as if it were an excuse. The much older man came into the room, pacing slowly with a slight smirk on his lips, though he knew Verdandi wasn't going to look at him and Rezo couldn't.

"I'm sure she did," Erion replied, neutrally as he watched Rezo retreat to the chair he'd been sitting in before.

Verdandi held her hands against her chest, blushing deeply, "I did, grandfather. Rezo-san was nice enough to heal it for me," she said, looking down at the floor. Erion gave a soft snigger as he headed toward the back door that opened onto the patio and garden.

"It's a nice night," he said, opening the door to let some of the fresh air in. "And it's slightly hot in here, isn't it?"

"I- didn't notice," Verdandi replied, getting back to her cooking. Rezo pretended to not be there at all and just laced his fingers together on the table top, staying silent and waiting to be spoken to. Erion snirked at the Red Priest, noting the hint of a blush, but he decided not to pick on them any further.

***