Arrow Lake displaced

the thin man who spoke the tongue of barbarians lapsed into silence, as if he sensed rhaenyra's disdain for his ugly language and was shamed by it. and the absence of his gaze on her was soon felt as keenly as the absence of his voice. it was no rare thing for men to fear to look upon her at first meeting, but sooner or later all of them gave in to their curiosity, their lust. yet he did not. he ate in silence, his gratitude reduced to a wordless gesture.
rhaenyra studied him, her gaze never leaving the man even as foxfire descended at her side once again to devour its own meal.