Stone's Throw

[NPCs]

"Andreas?" Cadmus asks, voice clear but feather light. His eyes open, alert and tracking but cloudy; thanks to his Tethras-level cursory healer education, Andreas can guess that the elder's eyesight suffers with denoting detail and color gradient but can still do fairly well with movement and things very close up. "Young weaver?" he asks, tone suggesting he's puzzled by why the third son of a low prominence weaver family would be interested in speaking with a retired Keeper, or be invited to do so in Don's personal study. It's rather telling, that even that oddity is more likely to Cadmus than his grandson visiting.

[GamesMaster]

"...no, father. Bethany's son, Andreas Amell." Adonis' voice is quiet, pained. 

[Andreas Amell]

Once again, Andreas falls back on training and rote manners to cover over his churning emotions. A stab of hurt had joined the nerves, unease, curiosity, yearning and hope, making his voice thick as he says in academic-style catfolk, "greetings, Finder Cadmus. I am Andreas Amell zi'Tethras, artist-errant." A beat and he remembers to add, "but Dreas is fine, here."

Cadmus had stiffened at his son's words, half-blind eyes widening in surprise. Hearing Andreas speaking, his ears swivel fully upright, his still excellent hearing catching every tone and inflection. "I welcome you home, Dreas, child of our people," he forces out, having to pause twice even in the short sentence.

[GamesMaster]

"Long sentences are difficult for him," Adonis adds, quietly. "But he is your Keeper as he is mine -- you are free to ask of him what you will, or just ask for advice."

[Andreas Amell]

"Ah, I understand," Andreas replies quickly. "I..." He wets his lips. "I suppose I mostly just wanted to... meet you?"

Cadmus smiles, then gestures at the last remaining seat near the fire, a plush leather ottoman. After Andreas settles down, the elder catfolk speaks. "I'm glad. Tell about you?"

"Umm. Well. You know of my-- know my family, so I think I can skip that," Andreas replies, floundering a little. "I'm an artist. Still learning, still studying and I've not yet found my specialty, my calling as yet."

[GamesMaster]

"I suggested he work with dyes," adds Don, a little proudly. "We catfolk have done wonderful things with dyes. Perhaps it is in his blood."

[Andreas Amell]

"I've done a little weaving before, so I'm hoping perhaps the combination could... spark something," Andreas agrees, tone loosening, brightening. 

"Marias," Cadmus suggests, naming an old friend of his, a semi-retired herbalist slash dyer whom he'd sponsored for further training in his early years as Keeper.

[GamesMaster]

Adonis nods. "Allow me to make introductions from you to a friend of ours, one who will be able to teach you all you need to know about the fiber arts our people have developed." 

[Andreas Amell]

"A friend of yours?" Andreas repeats, looking somewhat taken aback. "Who..? This Marias?"

[GamesMaster]

"Yes. He is mostly retired now, but he'll take on a student if the recommendation comes from the Keeper."

[Andreas Amell]

"Oh! I-- I'm not sure that-- I just mean that I'm not sure if the craft will call to me and I would not wish to impose," Andreas babbles, earning an amused snort from Cadmus.

[GamesMaster]

"Oh, it'll be fine. If you don't take to it, you don't take. But I will draft up a letter Cadmus can sign so you can think it over some. If you don't take the letter to him, then he'll never know we recommended you. Fair enough?" asks Adonis. 

[Andreas Amell]

"More than," Andreas says with a firm nod. "That's... that's very kind of you. Both of you, I mean."

Cadmus makes a dismissive sound. "Keeper always," he murmurs.

[GamesMaster]

"Cadmus takes his duties as Keeper very seriously." So seriously, I've never heard anyone call him by a nickname. "Even now, his overriding goal is to ensure every member of the Tribe is taken care of."

[NPCs]

"Your people," he murmurs, though, strangely, it seems directed at Don, not Dreas.