>>6256133“Dama Uxoria has yet to show up,” Bragia laments, crossing her arms over her slight chest. She looks so — small — especially compared to you. You are a good head taller. Bragia stretches her neck as if she could peer through the black stone. “I hoped she would be here.”
“I do wonder as well,” says the Rosandra of old. Unlike her present self, she is wearing a tight bandage over her eyes, and a long robe that covers everything. Her hair, still red and still long, cover most of her back. “And my first doubts concern how proper this mission ought to be, Bragia Lacresta.” She turns to address the other man present, a burly one, his arms wrapped in chains. He only wears a brown monk tunic, and his bald head shines like the polished stones around him. “Fra’ Catena. Don’t you have anything to say about this?”
“What is there to say?” He shrugs, and the metal tinkles. “It was a decision taken before I learned how to set a foot ahead of the other. Nothing else to do now but to let it play out.”
“Hmmm,” past Rosandra crosses her arms over her chest, clearly displeased. She is showing more emotion since the last time you saw her teach Asterites a lesson. “I am aware. And yet — I do disagree. The girl is young and inexperienced.”
“She knows what she does,” the blonde man standing next to Bragia says, sliding his arm around her narrow shoulders. “And besides she is hardly alone.”
“Oh, I—” she blushes, lowering her olive eyes, right as a blush spreads over her tanned skin. How young is Bragia here?
This must be a previous scene to the one you saw displayed at the Temple: her first actual mission, when she departed with Uxoria, the then-Archiater.
“I f-feel perfectly fine, my lady,” Bragia tries, even as her face flashes red. She rubs her arms even as she shuffles her feet on the stone floor, drawing a soft sound. “I c-couldn’t be more r-ready!”
“You are an astoundingly terrible liar,” Candeloro chuckles, rubbing her shoulder again, with a soft fondness. “And never to improve. You runt.”
[cont.]
