Sarai bounces to the balls of her feet as the door opens to reveal a calm, serene-looking young man, not much older than herself. She bites her lip to hide her frown of confusion. Is he really old enough to be a Mamoru? Perhaps the rigorous training and fun times keep one looking young. Perhaps...
"Come in, please, the fire has just been made, make yourselves warm. Let me take your cloaks."
Before she is aware of what's happening, Sarai has handed over her cloak, as does her mother, moving deeper into the room. "Thank you ever so much," she hears her mother proclaim pleaszantly before she pauses. Sarai can practically feel her mother's stare penetrating the back of her head, telling her to mind her manners. However, the girl pays no mind, too tired to say anything, if that is even possible. Or perhaps she's just making excuses to validate her own carelessness in her own very eyes. That's actually more likely, she decides, but does nothing about it.
Sarai never even hears Caelan's second comment, lost in the midst of her own thoughts. Her mother fails to say anything when the young man leaves the room, so she stays silent accordingly, biting her lip once more.
"How long have you been travelling in this weather?"
Sarai looks up at Master Macarra, studying him closely as her mother answers him in a hushed, respectable tone of voice.
"Only about an hour or so, from town. We couldn't afford to wait, as I really must be returning home come morning. I've been away quite long enough; I'll be lucky if the tax collectors aren't waiting for me when I get home." She laughs a tinkling little laugh.
"But, Mother," Sarai instantly protests, forgetting herself. "You're the only doctor in town. THey can't afford to get rid of you."
Madam Nadir's mouth presses into a thin line, though she doesn't look at the girl. "Hush, Daughter. Profession matters not in times as hard as these. You know it as well as I."
"Come in, please, the fire has just been made, make yourselves warm. Let me take your cloaks."
Before she is aware of what's happening, Sarai has handed over her cloak, as does her mother, moving deeper into the room. "Thank you ever so much," she hears her mother proclaim pleaszantly before she pauses. Sarai can practically feel her mother's stare penetrating the back of her head, telling her to mind her manners. However, the girl pays no mind, too tired to say anything, if that is even possible. Or perhaps she's just making excuses to validate her own carelessness in her own very eyes. That's actually more likely, she decides, but does nothing about it.
Sarai never even hears Caelan's second comment, lost in the midst of her own thoughts. Her mother fails to say anything when the young man leaves the room, so she stays silent accordingly, biting her lip once more.
"How long have you been travelling in this weather?"
Sarai looks up at Master Macarra, studying him closely as her mother answers him in a hushed, respectable tone of voice.
"Only about an hour or so, from town. We couldn't afford to wait, as I really must be returning home come morning. I've been away quite long enough; I'll be lucky if the tax collectors aren't waiting for me when I get home." She laughs a tinkling little laugh.
"But, Mother," Sarai instantly protests, forgetting herself. "You're the only doctor in town. THey can't afford to get rid of you."
Madam Nadir's mouth presses into a thin line, though she doesn't look at the girl. "Hush, Daughter. Profession matters not in times as hard as these. You know it as well as I."