Bramblepoint amble here, amble there

After their conversation in the high reaches of Moonspear, Alya had not bothered Hydra any more with talk of friendship. She was not one to nag, and knew that Hydra would remember her words even if she did not agree with them. It was up to the Queen to decide how, if at all, she would act on the reccomendation, and Alya respected her authority to do so.

So she was happy to follow along on a trip away from the territory. The children were big enough now that they did not need constant watching — and had not, in fact, for quite some time — and there were plenty enough weathered adults around that she was comfortable leaving for a short amount of time. While they walked, she expressed a desire to visit Easthollow with Nikai during the winter, and told her about Valette and Leta's desire to come and see Moonspear in the spring. It was idle, pleasant chatter that the sisters often shared while not talking of murder or intrigue.

Conversation halted when voices pulled at their ears. Alya had walked beside Hydra for the duration of the trip, but now fell back a foot or so to flank her, likewise curtailing her aggressive nature in order to appear kind and curious.