Starglow Basin Didn't think I'd see the rest of the year

my brother, the lion declares. soto knows enough of his abhorrent tongue to know this means hermano.

he looks between the two, suspicious and studying the expression in arslan’s deep set eyes; the emotion conveying something the tongue could not. 

it is the hermano’s bow that eases some of soto’s misgivings. flicking his gaze past the exposed region of the man’s nape, soto thinks. 

arslan had left. castel had been clear of this. and now he comes back, touting a sibling with him. perhaps this is why he’d gone to the oasis? or perhaps some other reason. 

soto knows he won’t get to the bottom of it now, with their language barrier. he wishes bushtit was here - his young acolyte who showed so much promise. 

his mind has been made. he jerks his head back, indicating both to follow him. 

if they are to be welcome back, they must work for his trust first. 

and soto has plenty of work.