he turned at the sound of a voice ringing stentorian with confidence, and swamp-gaze alighted on a darkened, muscular creature, a lovely diabhal with eyes that shone green in the dim light and quite put to shame the brief hints of emerald in taltos' own. he was not alone, lasher noted; a sable child tagged at his heels, and he observed her for the briefest of moments before he returned his attention to the man.
opposite lips that formed a question, taltos lowered his stance in obeisance, ears sliding back to a politely folded position along his skull. but he was struck dumb by the other's beauty, and quite ignored the child, wishing to creep forward into the scant inches of space encasing the devil. perhaps his search for a witch must now be ended, or put aside for now. a home, taltos murmured belatedly, gaze falling to caress the ground, for as sure as the sun was beginning to rise, he had been staring unabashed at the man.