Ankyra Sound the oracle told him to beware the ides

she had misspoken.  for a moment, her face breaks to show the apologetic flood she feels within.  oh, she says, stumbling over her words.  she does not want to give the wrong impression twice.

it wasn't that the implied offer upset her.  it was that she couldn't do anything about it.  in desperation, here on these sands, she had given her life to the listener in return for viridian's wellbeing.  she grasps to find a balance between too honest and too vulnerable.

but perhaps she was reading into something where there had never been anything at all.  maybe his advice was just that, and she had written in an offer that had never been said.  she finds her footing again.

i have obligations that prevent me.  if he wanted to know more, she might elaborate, but she was too reserved to burden him with these feelings outright.  but i find sameness in these adventures away from home.

every one, another stranger.